Year: 1873

conVersation whicn ensueu, learning the
history Of the picture in question. 1t is
sufficiently curious. Forty or more years
ago Mr.. Joseph Mayo, (for long peri
cd the mayor Of Richmond,) then a
young lawyer, met in the street an old
lady exposed to adrenching shower. He
promptly offered his umbrella Thank
ing him for his courtesy, she asked his
name and residence, in order that she
might know where to send the umbrella
after she reached home. He gave the
desired information, the umbrella was
returned and the matter forgotten. A
few days afterwards ne received a note
requesting him to call at such a house
in a certain street. On entering he
was greeted cordially by the lady
whom he had befriended, and, to make
a brief story, the interview resulted in
his becoming her attorney for life. She
proved TO be widow of Scottish birth,
named Kerr. Her property was large,
and her conversation and every sur
rounding showed her to be woman of
extraordinary taste, culture and refine
ment. Her son and only child was a
lunatic. Of her history previous 70 her
coming to this country the present writer
has been able to ascertain nothing what
ever. Mr.. Mayo had charge of all her
business matters up to the time Of her
death, which must have occurred FIVE
andthirty years ago. She was then nine
ty.


In token of her affection for Mayo's
little daughter, TO whom she had taken
great fancy, she left the child musi-
cal box, and the picture Of Mary Queen
of Scots. The miniature she declared
had been in her mothers family ever
since she could remember; was an heir
loom, indeed, of many generations, and
she priced it beyond all her other possess
sions. That she did not leave it to her
crazy son is not to be wondered at, but
why it was not bequeathed to some rela-
tive is mystery. This rare picture
the age of which is only a matter of
conjecture-your correspondent had the
pleasure of examining few evenings
ago.


THE MINIATURE.


Originally the miniature was encased
in a heavy, ugly wooden frame, discolor-
ed by age, but without paint or varnish.
As likeness it esembles somewhat the
Lochleven portrait, but is much more
beautiful. The expression is very differ
ent. As work of art it is unquestion-
ably OF high order Of merit. From
the long but not prominent chin the face
rises in rapidly winding oval to a brow
massive and broad, and shaded by curls
of the most exquisite auburn, gracefdl.
delicately penciled curls, in which the
unknown artist discoversa masters skill.
He was in love with the hair, and we'll
he might be. The brows are arched, the
eyes of decided brown are wide apart as
the OK eyed Hera's, the nose broad but
finely cut, the lips handsomely carved
but unskilfully colored, and the COM
plexion clear and pale, with the faintest
tint of the rose near the cheek bone. A
coquetish hat of straw, worsted or other
light brown material--it is hard to tell
what--covers her head. The ruff is un-
like any other, broad, deeply cut in
points and beautifully worked; it lies
fiat on her shoulders, displaying part
of her fair throat, and adding greatly to
the effect of the picture. 1t is drawn
together under the chin little way by
white cord with tasselled ends depend
ing on her breast. Her dress, of which
only small portion can be seen, is q
dark solid indigo blue. The expression
is mild even to tenderness, and wistfui
withal Ii is Mary in her softest mood.
The fire and vivacity which one would
expect tO Uuu III ldCc hTc Wuuliy Wdut-
ing but the edge of the live coal is seen
in the embered auburn hair, the long
chin tells its tale of strength, and the
angle of the ear, together with the gen.
eral conformation of the head, betrays
the leonine breadth of the occiput. The
lioness is ali there, but asleep. In the
wide, compact forehead, brain enough is
discovered to justify Schiller's magnii-
cent conception of the interview in the
garden with Elizabeth, and Janauschek's
no less rendition of it.


Such is the picture and such the inn
preston it produces on your correspond
ent. Who painted it. when, under
what circumstances, and how it got into
the Kerr family, are questions unan-
swered. That the miniature is authentic
and trustworthy as likeness taken from
the living face of Mary. one in looking
at it might easily believe. But this is
not asserted. That it is unique, verv
old and rare, there can be no question