Few have equalled Sir Joshua Reynolds in skill and graciousness
of compliment. When he painted the portrait of Mrs. Siddons as
the “Tragic Muse,” he wrought his name on the border of her
robe, with the remark, “I can not lose this opportunity of
sending my name to posterity on the hem of your garment.”
(503)
* * * * *
During a visit once with Queen Victoria, who had sent for him to
her palace, the poet Longfellow was seating himself in a waiting
coach at the close of the royal interview, when a working man,
hat in hand, approached, and asked:
“Please, sir, yer honor, an’ are you Mr. Longfellow?” Said the
poet, “I am Mr. Longfellow.” “An’ did you write ‘The Psalm of
Life?’” continued the questioner. “I wrote the ‘Psalm of Life,’”
was the answer. “An’ yer honor, would you be willing to take a
working man by the hand?”
Instantly Mr. Longfellow responded with a warm hand grip. In
telling the story later the poet said, “I never in my life
received a compliment that gave me greater satisfaction.”
(504)
* * * * *
I recollect once standing in front of a bit of marble carved by
Powers, a Vermonter, who had a matchless, instinctive love of
art and perception of beauty. I said to an Italian standing with
me, “Well, now, that seems to me to be perfection.” The answer
was, “To be perfection”--shrugging his shoulders--“why, sir,
that reminds you of Phidias!” as if to remind you of that Greek
was a greater compliment than to be perfection.--WENDELL
PHILLIPS.
(505)