Part 31 (1/2)
Among the notabilities of Antwerp in those days was Charles Felu, the armless painter. He was to be seen every day in the Museum, copying the great masters with skill and fidelity. He interested the Doctor greatly, and the whole party made acquaintance with him. A letter from one of them describes the meeting with this singular man:--
”As we were looking round at the pictures, I noticed a curious painting arrangement. There was a platform raised about a foot above the floor, with two stools, one in front of the other, and an easel. Presently the artist entered. The first thing he did, on stepping on the platform, was to kick off his shoes. He then seated himself (Heaven knows how) on one stool and placed his feet in front of him on the other, close before the easel. I was surprised to see that his stockings had no toes to them.
But my surprise was much greater when I saw him take the palette in one foot and the brush in the other, and begin to paint. The nicety with which he picked out his brushes, rubbed the paints, erased with his great toe, etc., was a mystery to me.... In a few minutes he put his foot into his pocket, drew out a paper from which he took his card, and _footed_ it politely to papa.... He shaves himself, plays billiards (and well, too), cards, and dominoes, cuts up his meat and feeds himself, etc.”
”_October 1._ By accident went to the same hotel [in Bruges] to which I went twenty-four years ago, a bride. I recognized a staircase with a bal.u.s.trade of swans each holding a stiff bulrush in its mouth.... Made a little verse thereupon.”
From Belgium the way led to London; thence, after a brief and delightful visit to the Bracebridges at Atherstone, to Liverpool, where the China awaited her pa.s.sengers. The voyage was long and stormy, thirteen days: the Journal speaks chiefly of its discomforts; but on the second Sunday we read: ”X. preached a horrible sermon--stood up and mocked at philosophy in good English and bad Christianity. He failed alike of satire and of sense, and talked like a small Pharisee of two thousand years ago. 'Not much like the Sermon on the Mount,' quoth I; not theology enough to stand examination at Andover. Bluejackets in a row, unedified, as were most of us.”
On October 25 the travellers landed in Boston, thankful to be again on firm land, and to see the family unit once more complete.
”The dear children came on board to greet us--all well, and very happy at our return.”
Thus ends the story, seven months of wonder and of delight.
At her Club, soon after, she gave the following epitome of the trip, singing the doggerel lines to an improvised tune which matched them in absurdity:--
Oh! who were the people you saw, Mrs. Howe, When you went where the Cretans were making a row?
Kalopathaki--Rodocanachi-- Paparipopoulos--Anagnostopoulos-- Nicolades--Paraskevades-- These were the people that saw Mrs. Howe When she went where the Cretans were making a row.
Oh! what were the projects you made, Mrs. Howe, When you went where the Cretans were making a row?
Emanc.i.p.ation--civilization--redintegration of a great nation, Paying no taxes, grinding no axes-- Flinging the Ministers over the banisters.
These were the projects of good Mrs. Howe When she went where the Cretans were making a row.
Oh! give us a specimen, dear Mrs. Howe, Of the Greek that you learned and are mistress of now.
Potichomania--Mesopotamia.
Tatterdemalion--episcopalian-- Megalotherium--monster inferium-- Scoulevon--auctrion--infant phenomenon.
Kyrie ticamete--what's your calamity?
Pallas Athenae Aun, Favors no Fenian.
Such is the language that learned Mrs. Howe, In the speech of the G.o.ds she is mistress of now.
CHAPTER XIII
CONCERNING CLUBS
1867-1871; _aet._ 48-52
”Behold,” he said, ”Life's great impersonate, Nourished by labor!
Thy G.o.ds are gone with old-time faith and fate; Here is thy Neighbor.”
J. W. H., ”A New Sculptor.”
After such a rush of impression and emotion, the return to everyday life could not fail to bring about a corresponding drop in our mother's mental barometer. Vexations awaited her. The Boylston Place house had been let for a year, and--Green Peace being also let on a long lease--the reunited family took refuge for the winter in the ”Doctor's Wing” of the Perkins Inst.i.tution.