Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 162, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1914 — Boys Break the Rules in Academy of Fine Arts [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Boys Break the Rules in Academy of Fine Arts

I) HILADELPHIA, PA.—lt happened in the Academy of the Pine Arts In this 1 city. A gentleman came in accompanied by four lads ranging apparently from ten to fifteen years. They were laughing and chatting at a merry rate.

They had come to “see the sights” and were being ushered in the section that holds the statuary. “Ah, ha, boys! Here is a fine bust of Julius Caesar. What do you think of him?” The tallest boy ran his fingers lightly over the head. “He* has a finely proportioned head; I like his forehead, but the jaw is strong and the mouth seems cruel.” “Let’s have a look at him,” said another of the boys, moving forward.

He fingered the bust carefully. “Yes, cruel and tyrannical, I should say, judging from his face." A woman among the other visitors in the academy stepped toward the group, after whispering Indignantly: “See these boys putting their hands on those statues? I’ll stop that” She was about to do so when the boys and their companion turned away from the statue they had been examining. As they faced the other visitors all comments stopped. The boys were blind. . -One of them, a bonny' venturesome fellow, called: “Come here, Charles; you said you would like to know what Cupid was like; well, here he is—a nice, fat baby lying on his side with wings coming out his back. He’s not much on clothes,” he finished with a laugh. 7 Eagerly they gathered around Cupid, and then other pieces of statuary, discussing them with understanding and animation, their comments showing often startling comprehension of the things they “saw." They read the character of the faces they felt and saw points of beauty or excellence that those with eyesight often overlooked, and among all the guests they were the most appreciative. ' _ ~ \ ...'.l—