Year: 1872

FROM THE GERMAN OF ELIzE PoLKo.
| The lovely Anna Smythers, of Ghent,


found joyous life awaiting her as pu-
| pill in the studio of Gerhard Dow, the


famous painter of the Netherlands.


Her father had at last yielded to her


repeated entreaties for instruction by


a regular master, and the hope of en-
riching both herself and him by the
practice of the art, which he esteemed
but lightly, had decided him to send
her to Leyden, to the home of Dow,
who was a distant relative of her de-
ceased mother. Thus, for the first
time, Anna stepped from the gloom of
lionel ly youth, into warm, bright at
mosphere of affection. Free to devote
herself openly to the art, which she
had so long secretly adored, she now
blossomed like rose, to the Joy of all
who saw her, and her rich talent devel-
Oped itself with astonishing rapid1ty.
Dow's studio was spacious room,
with northern exposure, full of soft
lights, and looking down upon the wa
ters of a quiet stream, Wondrous or
der reigned in the cool, attractive re-
treat. The master never began his
morning work until every particle of
dust had subsided. Long after blonde
Anna stood painting zealously at her
easel. Dow would wait patiently,
watching the fine notes floating in the
sunshine, and when the giddy whirl
had ceased, he would slowly bring forth
from chest his palette, with all it's
belongings, carefully select his colors,
and take the brush in his hand. Then
there must be no going to and fro
among the pupils-a rule of especial
irksOmeness to impetuous Franz Won
Mieris, who would gladly have run
every five minutes from one easel to
another. Anna wore her brown frock
looped up, least in her quick motions it
might sweep the floor and whirl a cloud
of the dreaded dust into the air; and
indeed she had no cause to blush for
the little feet which stood in their
hlgh-heeled shoes, as trim and delicate
as a princess own. Her close fitted
jacket displayed the charming outlines
of her graceful form, and her padded
sleeves were pushed back from pair
of hands which Franz Won Mieris de-
clared the fairest in the Netherlands.
Unfortunately for the young scholar,
Annals easel was placed at such an an
gle that only at rare intervals some
turn of her head brought to his view
her d d5licate profile and rosy cheek. So
he admired all the more ardently the
golden hair fastened in heavy braids at
the back OF her head, and falling on
each side III shower of curls. We
have charming picture of Franz Won
Mieris In his later years, in which he
has represented himself standing be-
fore his easel, dressed in black velvet.
his bold, handsome face turned toward
the observer, and his aristocratic hand
res ing between the folds of some rich
drapery hanging over the back of a
chair. Near him stands girlish fig
ure in the precise attitude of the beau
tiful Anna in the old studio; the slen-
der waist, the lovely shoulders and
neck encircled by golden chain, the
luxuriant hair, a glimpse of the cheek,
and white delicate hand-all are de-
l1neated with the touch of master.
Upon the easel is family outlined
picture of a lady, blonde and beauti-
full with smiling lips and eyes-the por-
trait OF the young pupil herself. On
one side bass-viol leans against the
wall, a remainder of the merry music
which sounded SO often through the
studio, and in the background appears
Frau Katherine bearing refreshments
for her husband and pupils.


Indeed, there had been no dearth of
music in the Leyden studio. If Dow
were weary, or the sky gray and over
cast, Anna must sing in hersweet voice,
or the artist Terburg come over with
his violin, and Franz play the brass
viol. Poor Franz was sadly angry that
Anna never seemed moved by the PLAIN
tive strains which he drew from his in
strument, and answered cnly by ro-
glsh smiles all the languishing glances
with which he accompanied them. The
maiden could not be made TO under