“Fair was she to behold, that maiden of seventeen summers.
Black were her eyes as the berry that grows on the thorn by the
wayside,
Black, yet how softly they gleamed beneath the brown shade of her
tresses.
Fairer was she when, on Sunday morn, while the bell from its turret
Sprinkled with holy sounds the air, as the priest with his hyssop
Sprinkles the congregation, and scatters blessings upon them,
Down the long street she passed, with her chaplet of beads and her
missal,
Wearing her Norman cap and her kirtle of blue, and the ear-rings,
Brought in the olden time from France, and since, as an heirloom,
Handed down from mother to child, through long generations.
But a celestial brightness—a more ethereal beauty—
Shone on her face and encircled her form, when after confession,
Homeward serenely she walked with God’s benediction upon her.
When she had passed, it seemed like the ceasing of exquisite music.”
—_Evangeline_, by Henry W. Longfellow
=Artist=: William Ladd Taylor.
=Birthplace=: Grafton, Massachusetts.
=Dates=: Born, 1854.
=The story of the picture.= In illustrating Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s
poem _Evangeline_, Mr. Taylor has chosen to represent the heroine during
the happiest part of her life, and before anything very exciting or at
all strange began to happen, unless, perhaps, we feel that it is strange
and wonderful that there should be such a little village as Grand-Pré,
where Evangeline lived. History tells us that such a village did exist
in Acadie—or Nova Scotia, Canada, as we call it now. The French and
English had quarreled bitterly over this island, for each wanted
possession of its fisheries. The English claimed the territory by right
of discovery, and they finally secured possession of it.
Most of the people living there were French and had been given the
privilege of leaving within two years. Though they desired to remain,
yet they refused to take the oath of allegiance, and their oath of
fidelity to the British king was accepted instead. They were exempted
from bearing arms against their own countrymen, allowed to enjoy their
religion, to have magistrates of their own selection, and, in fact, they
had been permitted to do about as they pleased. Each man owned his farm
and his stock, and all that goes to make a life of usefulness as well as
of plenty and content.
Mr. Longfellow tells us:
“Vast meadows stretched to the eastward,
Giving the village its name, and pasture to flocks without number.
Sea-fogs pitched their tents, and mists from the mighty Atlantic
Looked on the happy valley, but ne’er from their station descended.
There, in the midst of its farms, reposed the Acadian village.
Strongly built were the houses, with frames of oak and of hemlock,
Such as the peasants of Normandy built in the reign of the Henries.
Thatched were the roofs, with dormer windows; and gables projecting
Over the basement below protected and shaded the doorway.”
How carefully Mr. Taylor studied all these details is shown by the way
he represents the main street of the little village of Grand-Pré. How
much more picturesque these thatched-roofed houses are than some of our
more costly and elaborate modern homes! A roof made of simple framework,
however, covered with thick layers of skillfully arranged straw or
reeds, called thatch, does not seem very practicable to us in these
days.
It is not difficult to determine who is the center of interest in this
picture. We recognize Evangeline with her white Normandy cap, her kirtle
or short jacket with its flowing sleeves, and we can even distinguish
her beads. Her missal, or Roman Catholic mass book, is clasped in both
hands as she passes quietly down the street, and the expression in her
face is one of perfect peace and happiness.
She has passed the group of visiting women, as well as the two men
standing by the gate who have turned to look after her. We know that she
has greeted them all pleasantly, if a bit absently, and it is plain that
she has now forgotten them again in the absorption of her mind.
Although the picture does not even suggest the strange and adventurous
future before her, still it is all the more pleasing because it gives us
a glimpse of Evangeline in the hour of peace and happiness. We are made
to feel the secret of the reserve strength of our heroine who, thus
fortified, will be equal to all that must befall her. We shall wish to
read again Mr. Longfellow’s poem _Evangeline_.
According to the story, Evangeline keeps house for her father, who is
known as the wealthiest farmer of Grand-Pré. He is well on in years,
genial, kindly, always looking on the bright side of life, and his home
is known far and wide for its hospitality and cheer. The house is out a
little way from the village and is built on the side of a hill, so that
it commands a fine view of the ocean. Meadows, orchards, great barns
with their dovecotes, beehives, a well with its moss-grown bucket,
weathercocks, and sheepfolds complete the picture.
One of the farmer’s best friends is Basil, the blacksmith, who is a much
honored man in the village. He has one son, Gabriel. Evangeline and
Gabriel have played together as children, have grown up together, and
now they are engaged to be married. Already the contract is signed, the
dower of the bride in flocks of sheep and in cattle has been determined,
and all is ready for the wedding feast.
“Fairest of all the maids was Evangeline, Benedict’s daughter!
Noblest of all the youths was Gabriel, son of the blacksmith!”
But their wedding is almost forgotten because of the terrible events
which prevent it. For several days a fleet of English ships has been
observed approaching the harbor with their guns pointed toward the
peaceful little village of Grand-Pré. On the very day set for the
wedding, the English soldiers land and demand the surrender of all their
arms in the name of the king. All the men are commanded to assemble in
the meetinghouse at noon of that day. The people drive in from all the
country around, a happy, care-free crowd, thinking that, since they have
harmed no one, no harm can come to them.
But once in the meetinghouse the soldiers lock and bolt the door while
the commander reads the king’s proclamation from the pulpit. It is
terrible beyond all belief, for it not only commands that they forfeit
all their lands, dwellings, and cattle to the crown, but that they and
their families shall be transported to other lands. A great cry arises,
and all the men rush to the doorway. But there is no means of escape,
for the soldiers are well armed and prepared.
Then Basil the blacksmith calls upon them all to resist and is promptly
felled by a soldier. All is angry commotion when the door of the chancel
opens and Father Felician, whom all revere, stands before them
commanding their silence. He appeals to their faith, and their reverence
for the house of God, and by his wise counsel succeeds in quieting his
people. Meanwhile the women wait outside in the churchyard, fearful when
the tumult is greatest but reassured when all is quiet again. Hour after
hour passes by and still they wait.
At length the door of the meetinghouse opens and a soldier appears.
Again the fearful proclamation is read. Then the women are commanded to
pack their household goods and be ready for sailing on the fifth day.
Now indeed a great cry of distress arises, echoed by the men, who are
still held prisoners. Then, in obedience to a second command, the women
depart for their homes. With heavy hearts they begin their packing.
Evangeline, left alone without father or lover, looks at the table set
for the wedding feast and at all the signs of rejoicing, then softly
goes back to the meetinghouse. There she calls Gabriel by name several
times but receives no answer.
On the fifth day all is ready. The great wains empty their loads on the
shore, and the women and children are waiting. At last, at a signal, the
church door is thrown open and the prisoners march to the boats. Then
comes the most terrible part of all. In their haste the soldiers
separate families, placing some members in one ship, some in another.
Gabriel and his father are placed in different ships, while Evangeline
and her father remain on the shore awaiting the last boat. And then
comes the fearful sight of their homes and barns in flames, and the
utter destruction of the village.
The horror and injustice of it all are too great for Evangeline’s
father, who dies there upon the shore. Evangeline, left thus alone and
crushed by her sorrow, scarce knows when she is led into the ship or
when the ships depart.
Many days pass before the people are landed on a foreign shore. Then the
first thought of all is to seek relatives and friends.
The rest of the story tells of Evangeline’s long search for Gabriel and
her many discouragements as she follows this rumor and that. The priest,
Father Felician, goes with her on the journey, encouraging and helping
her.
Once Gabriel and Evangeline pass each other on the water, but it is
during the night and neither is aware that the other is so near. Gabriel
finds his father but, restless and unhappy, he does not remain with him
long. And so it happens that when Evangeline at length finds Basil the
blacksmith, Gabriel is not with him. He had left just the day before. So
Basil sets out with Evangeline in search of his son.
After years of patience and perseverance, rewarded only by failure,
Evangeline ceases her wandering and becomes a nurse. And then it is she
finds Gabriel, on his deathbed.
It is a sad but beautiful story, and it is all founded on facts. Not
only was there such a village as Grand-Pré with just such people living
in it, but it is also true that in 1755 King George II of England sent
his fleet to scatter them among the other British provinces. He believed
that these people aided the Indians and, because of the almost
independent character of the colony, embarrassed the local government.
As we read the story we cannot but be glad that Mr. Taylor chose the
Evangeline of the happy days of Grand-Pré, rather than any other picture
of her that he might have shown us.
The soft tones in the picture are especially pleasing, as well as the
few strong notes of color in the dresses and the houses. The perspective
of the road is made interesting by the figures in it, as well as by the
houses and trees on each side. Note the difference in size of the
various figures according to their distance. This makes the road appear
longer and more winding.
=Questions to help the pupil understand the picture.= Where did
Evangeline live? Describe the village of Grand-Pré. Of what nationality
were most of the people? How did they happen to be under English rule?
What special privileges were they given? Who was the British king at the
time of this story? Why did he wish to dispose of the Acadians? How did
he do this? What became of the village? of the houses? of the people?
their cattle, horses, sheep? Who was Evangeline? Gabriel? Basil the
blacksmith? What event was to take place the day the king’s proclamation
was read? Where was the proclamation read? What effect did it have upon
the men? upon the women? What part of the story is represented in the
picture? If you were to draw just one picture from this story, which
would you choose? why?
=The story of the artist.= As in the case of so many of our living
artists, we know very little of the details of Mr. Taylor’s life. We do
know that William Ladd Taylor was born at Grafton, Massachusetts,
December 10, 1854, and that most of his education was received at
Worcester, Massachusetts. He attended art schools in Boston and New
York, and studied one year in Paris, France. He has traveled
extensively, making a special study of mediæval architecture, costumes,
and customs.
Owing to ill health, Mr. Taylor spent a year in Colorado, which proved
most beneficial. There he produced several paintings, two of the best
known being “The Caribou Hunter” and “Shooting the Rapids.” Mr. Taylor
has lived most of his life in or near Boston.
He has painted a series of pictures representing nineteenth-century New
England; a series of pictures of the pioneer West; and the Longfellow
series, including “Evangeline,” “Minnehaha and Hiawatha,” “The Village
Blacksmith,” “The Hanging of the Crane,” “Maidenhood,” “The Old Clock on
the Stairs,” “The Building of the Ship,” “Priscilla and John Alden,”
“The Children’s Hour,” and others. Other paintings are the Psalm Series;
Old Song Series; Our Home and Country, a book of pictures of American
life; “The Earl’s Return,” illustrating Owen Meredith’s poem; and
“Rosita,” illustrating Bret Harte’s _The Mystery of the Hacienda_.
=Questions about the artist.= Who painted this picture? Where was he
born? What education did he receive? Name some of his best paintings.
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