as they were, however des TIT! NIE Jai s jected themselves a great straster that dry cur son lessons in the n of star bi kindly undertaken a ir a very many je Antony Canova bai eany emirel & say halty fr statuary. He modelet say when be out get à and with the help of his feared back as du the chips of wood he would by his hands a. His were acquainted with the cook of senator Faiers. On the morning of the great dinner he came to them to impart the difficulty he had in giving a graceful finish to the table He had exhausted all the resources of his skill and imagina tion; but he still wanted one of those effective dishes capable of producing a great sensation, which would rend to establish his reputation as the cook of a great house. Seeming still, yet still in motion, 4. River, river! headlong river! -C. A. Bowles. ANTONY CANOVA. 1. Canova was born in the little Venetian village of Possagno in the year 1757. Falieri the senator was lord of this village. One day he gave a great dinner, and there was served up to his guests the image of a lion beautifully formed in butter. This unexpected dish gave as much surprise to the senator as it did to his numerous guests. He ordered his cook to come up stairs that he might congratulate him in presence of the party, so much pleased was he with the marvellous work of art. The cook was introduced into the banqueting-hall, and was so overwhelmed with congratulations that the tears came into his eyes. "You weep for joy?" said his master to him. "No, my lord," he replied; "it is through despair at not having executed the work of art which is the object of so much admiration." "I should like to make the artist's acquaintance," said the senator. 2. The cook withdrew, assuring his master that his wish would be gratified; and in a few minutes returned leading in the artist. He was a little peasant boy about ten years old, meanly clad, for his parents were poor. Poor as they were, however, these worthy people had subjected themselves to great straits rather than deny their son lessons in the art of sculpture, which a professor had kindly undertaken to give for a very moderate fee. Antony Canova had early exhibited a strong faculty for statuary. He modelled clay when he could get it, and with the help of his knife carved little figures out of all the chips of wood he could lay his hands on. His parents were acquainted with the cook of senator Falieri. On the morning of the great dinner he came to them to impart the difficulty he had in giving a graceful finish to the table. He had exhausted all the resources of his skill and imagination; but he still wanted one of those effective dishes capable of producing a great sensation, which would tend to establish his reputation as the cook of a great house. 3: The little Canova thought for a minute, and then said, "Do not trouble yourself, I will soon come to you. Leave it to me, and I will answer for it that your table will be complete." The boy went as he had promised to the senator's house, showed the cook the design of the figure which he meant to execute, answered for the success of the attempt, and cut the block of butter with that purity of imagination and perfect taste which he afterwards displayed in cutting blocks of marble. Surprised as the guests had been by the work, they were much more so when they beheld the workman. He was loaded with attentions, and from this time forth Falieri was the patron of the young Canova. The happy result of the first attempt of the little peasant boy suddenly made his name famous, and opened up to him the road to permanent success. Falieri placed him as a pupil in the studio of the best sculptor of the time. Two years after -that is to say, when Canova was only twelve years of age-he sent to his patron a gift of two marble fruit baskets of his own workmanship, of remarkable merit, which still adorn the Falieri palace at Venice. 4. In 1780, he removed to Rome, where the greater part of his life was spent. He was very soon acknowledged as the leading sculptor of his age. In 1815, he was appointed by the Roman government to visit Paris to superintend the restitution of the works of art which had been taken by the French from Rome. From Paris he passed over into England, where he was most cordially received. 5. Many of his works are to be seen at Rome. Some very splendid sculptures from his hand are in this country, especially at Chatsworth House in Derbyshire, the princely seat of the Duke of Devonshire. It was while engaged in modelling some decorations for a church which he had built in his native place, that he caught the illness which brought his brilliant life to a close. He died at Venice in October 1822. All the academies of Europe solicited the honour of enrolling him among their members. Kings vied with each other in enriching their national museums with the beautiful products of his genius. He was elected prince-perpetual of the Academy of St. Luke at Rome-a title conferred on no other artist since his death. The funeral ceremony with which his remains were honoured was the grandest which has ever occurred in connection with a professor of the fine arts since the death of Raphael. Canova, pronounced kä-nō'vä. Falieri, pronounced fä-le-a're. statuary, the art of carving sculptor, one who carves figures Describe the device by which Canova first showed his genius. What was his first gift to his patron? Where did he establish himself? For what purpose did he visit Paris? Where can some of his sculptures be seen? Name some of the honours bestowed upon him. THE GREAT STORM OF 1703. 1. This fearful tempest was preceded by a strong west wind, which set in about the middle of November, 1703; and every day, and almost every hour, increased in force. until the 24th, when it blew furiously, occasioned much alarm, and some damage was sustained. On the 25th, and through the night following, it continued with unusual violence. On the morning of Friday, the 26th, it raged so fearfully that only few people had courage to venture abroad. Towards evening it rose still higher. The night setting in with excessive darkness added general horror to the scene, and prevented any from seeking security abroad from their homes, had that been possible. 2. The extraordinary power of the wind created a noise, hoarse and dreadful like thunder, which carried terror to every ear and appalled every heart. There were also appearances in the heavens that resembled lightning. "The air," says a writer at the time, "was full of meteors and fiery vapours; yet," he adds, "I am of opinion that there was really no lightning, in the common acceptation of the term; for the clouds that flew with such violence through the air were not, to my observation, such as are usually freighted with thunder and lightning. 3. Some imagined the tempest was accompanied with an earthquake. "Horror and confusion seized upon all, whether on shore or at sea; no pen can describe it, no tongue can express it, no thought can conceive it, unless theirs who were in the extremity of it; and who, being |