Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-28
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
/. G.. M.
MEMORIES OF A SCULPTOR'S WIFE
Mrs. Daniel Chester French
Houghton Mifflin Co.

Mrs. Daniel Chester french.
Houghton Mif1lin Co.
saw him for the first time in the
bright breakfast room of his father-in-
laws house.
Wait a minute. I want to roam
about bit.
That house, big, three-storied, bay
fronted brick, was of a clearly dignif1ed
port, but not otherwise remarkable
save that but few steps to the west
of 1t stood a famous inn, Brooks. v
Nowadays this hostel fingers only in
the memory along with other lost de-
lights of the robust diners from all
parts of the Capital City. In those
days this old public was the favorite
Summer resort of the long session
Congressman, who, having shipped
their families back to the four corners
of the country where they belonged,
settled down in rare contentment to the
hot-weather easements Of "Brocn's.'
Now the old house is gone. The home
of the French family nearby Is gone,
too, and with it many another substan-
tial residence stretching from the hotel
corner at New Jersey avenue to the
south of it and to the east. Upon this
swept site now stands the House Once
Building. Just q minute of reminis-
cence this, not far enough away to
carry with 1t the chill Of history. In
stead, only a hands reach backward
into the cheering warmth OF friendly
spot now gone from the beautiful Capt.
toll Hill section.
AS I was saying, I saw him for the
first time in the old French home.
Even then I didn't see him, not really.
For the foreground of the breakfast
room was at the moment filled, quite,
by remarkable young woman, round
about years of age, as recall. Maybe
less. This baby was in natural morn
ing clamor for food, like any other
young animal. A sort of royal young
one to look at, seated in a high chair,
banging the table with spoon. Cry
ing? Whimpering? Not bit OF it
just raising rumpus for her breakfast
in a gale Of laughter, entirely secure
in her own proves. A man standing
we'll to one side said in a quiet, nom
committal way. MARY, your daugh--
ter" Wherupon the small riot
gave way to a contented intake OF
nourishment. It was only with this in
terlude Of peace that I saw the man
who had, for the moment, so clearly
repudiated his offspring, like any other
inadequate male in like situation.
That man was Daniel Chester French,
the artist around whom these Mem
cries" so naturally and so simply
gather. Within them, too, that same
baby appears many times. Not so lit
tie now, but still markedly "forehand-
ed" according to the account Of her
mother. To be sure, she no longer
raises a racket with a spoon to make
ends meet desire. But, without ques-
ton, she does create good deal OF a
stir on the road up toward womanhood.
Something of the persuasive radiance
of that baby at the breakfast table In
her grandfather's house appears to
cling yet to the young girl of efficient
record in wartime work and in other
interesting and useful lines OF forth
faring into life.
X X X X
Then in but few years the name of
Daniel Chester French, sculptor, began
to make frequent way into the appre-
citation of lovers of art. THE Minute
Man" up in New England began the
public career of this artist. Today,
here in Washington, there Is more than
one testimonial to the genius of French
who, so feelingly, changes unyielding
marble into the pliancy of human flesh
and raiment. And these, invariably,
the housing of some indwelling spirit.
Most notable of his work in this city.
or any where else, is the great Lincoln
seated in the Memorial Building. In
another mood up at Dupont Circle is
the lovely classic group Of the fountain.
A common bond among the French
figures, whatever they may be or wher-
ever. apart from their superb technical
excellence, is that of poetic conception
on the part of Daniel French, is that
of a symbolic lyric essence in his work.
THE Angel of Death" is mastery II
these lines A beloved artist, this
Daniel Chester French, as well as q
most distinguished one.
x* **
The memories" begin with the girl
hood of Mary French in the home on
Capitol Hill. Farther back they run
than my own slight "reminiscences OF
that quarter, somewhat farther back, to
gather in the earliest recollections OF
this girl about the Hill as 1t was
when she first began to remember
things-that fine old house now gone,
that great estate now cut into city lots,
the tearing down of this, the opening OF
streets here and there. There is good
deal of the social ways of her girlhood
misconceptions at the White House,
contacts with President, or cabinet
officer, or groups of statesmen, or views
of figures that are still celebrated TO-.
day. Indeed, by virtue OF Its natural
and simple quality, as well as by virtue
of the personal partaklng OF the french
family in many of the social affairs OF
the day, this, it seems to me is one OF
the best of the pictures OF Washington
not so many years back. Clearly, more
genuine is it than any report OF pass,
ing observer or professional travel
writer could possibly be.
With the coming of her cousin, Daniel
French, the memories swiftly pass 10
other places and other activities. Court
ship and marriage, lightly touched here,
Of course. Then up to New England
and off to Europe, turn and turn about
Boston, Concord, New York. Paris,
Taormina and other points In Italy
become the background OF these recol-
lections while a young sculptor Is In
the making. Recognition gained. some
of the visions embodied in art ana
placed here and there for the Joy OF
all onlookers of students and ART
lovers, there must have come expan-
sion in the life of this family. And IL
does come, yet there Is never an in
slant of conscious flamboyance IN these
recollections. Simple, modest, just ike
anybodys life-so these little stories
run, so these pictures come and go, so
these incidents make their way through
what is. in reality, most unusual
course of life for this family Of three.
AS a matter of course, somewhat as
if Mrs Smith had run in for chat
or Mrs Brown had stopped in passing
by, here are moments when the people
about whom we have read and have
hungered just to hear for minute
even come and 60 in the French house.
hold. Nothing to make a fuss about.
Rather a thing to accept in gladness
and quiet appreciation. The roster OF
Concord celebrities stands here as mod
estly as if these high-thinkers were
merely part of truly high-thinking