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It was at Jozio, on one of those mat enge Soward Sue end of sumus, vel. 10: gella vierze moved the ban voc, and the a. we redolent will the perfi tue of fragrant auri de and Lowere

The Bry wat ine at : meuse azire civut. touched here aus Suere #IL goiset. 8. sert and rvey bitte. Not & pe moved the water of the sea-greet laker, wijen 19oked, at et 1. 1g mirrore Lamed in rowe of rose treBE.

The young European, bis in by brit, a new arrisa, in tuis etrange country, watened with the loving eyes of an art at the Axialit at teet : that farewell of the sun to the vast ety when. like a fabled oasis, rises among the gardens and groves, the cared and ornamented las and palaces, the enameled cupolas of ite kioske and templet He watched the small w te boate wicu, like curious animale with invisible w ge, pied up and down the wide canals, while the inhabitantsthat intelligent people who have made Tokio a unique centre of art and industry in the Oriental world-suspended the day's labor to consecrate, with patriarchal serenity, a few hours to the enjoyment of domestic life.

The diaphanous light of the approaching night takes the place of twilight in these countries, and the day which is dying throws forth, from time to time, bright reflections like the flare of a candle just before it goes out. At such moments the shores of the canals and lakes take on tinte altogether new, while over the green herbage, the water and the houses a faint mist, like a breath of harmony and poetry, spreads itself, softening thus the vivid colors. Little by little the obelisks, cupolas, houses and temples fade into an indistinct mass along the water edge and in the groves murmuring in the breeze under the quiet gleaming of the stars.

The young Italian, after wandering about for some time, absorbed in fantastic musings which the scene aroused, turned toward his home. Suddenly, as he was passing before one of those wooden houses inhabited by the natives, which consist of one story with umbrella-shaped roof and two slight balusters finely carved, he paused, his attention riveted by a living Japanese picture framed in the open door.

Set at the DWE A fine young felov, via e etuty figure of a workmat or suidier. Was lier CompanoL.. but. silent. 11 one corner of the TOON.. a young gir. £uel rpol the tatane her weight scarcely resting rpot her inte fer, we she painted strange brus aut flowers ten & wong fal.. ber pretty, dark fase ilun.ineċ Cut Vit by the gut from & square, colored Jasper skull p She was apparently unconscHQUE DĚ She cotterbation going on about her, st ment tissue seen on the delicate, fauciful tracery Wie ber brnel was creating

As the sira ger soll entiLned 10 gaze in STE Citiona Japanese hospitality mal feed need in tie famly, a he was 1 rited to elser. Et expressed is talks by gestures and sn Jes, DLI veritated; tel. divided between timiễng and et riosity, went it. that be a ghi look closer at the work of the young girl, and incidentiar-we wil stprose-at berse

She knelt there, quite motionless, absorbed in her work. The Sillian admired not only the rare gift which this e53-for such she seemed to bim-displayed for drawing, but even more the remarkable eye for color shown in ber eboise and disposition of the various gradations in the titte before her. He was a fine draughtsman Limself, and almost before he was conscions of what be was doing he began to help, advise and correct the little artist.

Thus commenced a series of genuine lessons, which, even more than that, was an exchange of artistic ideas between master and pupil, tending, of course, to blend the two methods, the Eastern and Western, and thus form a unique school of painting, which combined purity and elegance of form with a vivacity of coloring quite remarkable of its kind.

For seven years Professor Ragusa remained at Tokio, working on a fixed salary from the Japanese Government; and during this period O' Tama, of course, continued her studies with him.

Then the teacher, without further insisting, which perhaps would avail little in the end, bethought him of a gentler method by which to win over the rebellious pupil to his way of thinking. He ordered flowering plants, and thus turned the house into a beautiful conservatory; while the garden, with its small lake, was filled with peacocks, geese, swans, ducks and others of the feathered tribe. Finally the professor had a large crystal basin made, in which were placed different species of fresh-water fish; then, silently, he awaited the effect of his labor.

At first the girl, perceiving what all this meant, rather resented than otherwise the innovation; then, by degrees, she began to enjoy watching the plants, the feathered beings and the fish. At last, without any compulsion, she took up her brush and palette and began to imitate the leaves and flowers, the feathers of the peacock and swan, the scales of the various fish. In short, she tried to convey to her canvas the likeness of every living thing that met her

gaze.

Sometimes the difficulty of reproduction in the perfect form in which her mind's eye had pictured it seemed insurmountablethen she would give way to despair, her brown eyes filling with tears and her pretty, dark face veiled in melancholy, while canvas and colors lay neglected. In vain the flowers opened their petals and smiled at her, and the proud peacock strutted before her in all his glory, while the swans floated up and down on the tiny lake, and the fish, in turn, swam about in their miniature crystal pond-for O' Tama heeded them not.

She simply occupied herself with household duties, her position as second daughter, according to the

Then, suddenly, the irresistible power of her art would recall her to this work, and once more she would become absorbed in it. Thus, little by little, O' Tama Chiovara grew to be one of the greatest flower painters of her age.

Meantime Ragusa was teaching sculpture to the Japanese, and in turn becoming enamored, not only of his young pupil-which, of course, is a foregone conclusion-but also of certain branches of the Oriental arts, especially the inlaid wood, carved ivory and enameled gold and silver ware, so superior to the work of other nations in the combination of colors alone.

As time went on changes occurred in the little circle to which the Italian artist had attached himself. O' Cio, the elder sister, married Scideski, the young man with whom she had been holding the animated colloquy on that memorable evening of the first meeting; then the old father died, first, however, commending his younger child, little O' Tama, to his friend the sculptor.

At the end of seven years, Ragusa's work for the Japanese Government being finished, he was ready, of course, to turn his face homeward, to return to his beloved Italy; but he did not wish to go alone. He proposed, therefore, that they all accompany him. Almost to his surprise-for the journey is a long and fatiguing one-the party consented; and thus the trio of Orientals found themselves in a strange land.

They took with them the magnificent collec

JAPANESE FORESTERS.

tion of rare and exquisite Japanese art, bibelots and bric-a-brac, which the sculptor had amassed with patient research during his long sojourn in their midst.

Happy to be on his native leath again, after an absence of so many years, Ragusa lost no time in establishing himself in an old palace, where he gathered his own family about him, and made place also in his household for the Japanese friends. Eleven rooms in this spacious house were turned into a museum for the exhibition of the Oriental collection, and connoisseurs assembled to admire the rich stuffs and embroideries, paintings and sculpture-the wonderful porcelains, majolicas and metals. The museum proved such a success that Ragusa was inspired with the idea of opening a school in connection with it for the instruction of these arts. Accordingly, he inaugurated an institute of applied arts and industries, of which all who were interested in the work of the Oriental world might avail themselves.

Here Ragusa, with his Japanese companions,

taught in the different branches, each following his or her particular line of work: the professor, of course, pursued his own and native art, sculpture; Scideski worked in lacquer, producing dainty pieces of furniture, and lovely bibelots inlaid with mother-of-pearl, beautiful carved ivory, bas-reliefs, and so on; O' Cio wrought the most fantastic and exquisite embroideries, while O' Tama taught in her special school of painting, in which, as regards certain qualifications, she is unequaled. After a few years two of the Japanese grew homesick, and returned to their beloved Tokio, while the third, O' Tama, becoming the wife of her teacher, remained in Italy, where she now enjoys well-earned fame.

The school started by her husband is now carried on by the Italian Government, from which they both receive a salary for their work therein.

Aside from her painting, which extends beyond her specialty in flowers to every branch in the art, including, naturally, genre subjects, figures and landscapes, O' Tama Chiovara excels also in embroidery.

United with her rare talents is the quality of persevering industry, which insures the success of everything she undertakes to do.

This gifted daughter of Japan, notwithstanding her duties as teacher-and she has

to her having abandoned the tea habit her skin has grown quite fair, and has a pretty color in it, too. Her eyes, of course, are unchanged, retaining ever that soft dark velvety hue and the peculiar charm of expression which the almondshaped orbs seem to possess. Her black hair is as long and thick as in the days when she was first discovered by the young Sicilian; but the coiffure is no longer Japanese.

She has changed her name, and in conformity with the usages of the country which is now hers altered her style of dress, and so forth; but her

nature is the same always, and she paints. to-day as she did so many years ago.

A friend describes her attitude when, suddenly struck with an idea regarding some work in mind, she takes from the pocket in her frock a tiny box of colors, such as children play with, and standing before a little table, or on her knees beside a chair, she accepts whatever is placed in front of her, be

it paper or canvas, silk or a fan, and without further ado proceeds to paint. With a few strokes of the brush, which seems to have the magic power of designing and coloring at once, she executes, with a rapidity as astonishing as it is marvelous, exquisite birds and flowers, maintaining throughout the simplicity of demeanor and the unconsciousness of self which first entranced her husband.

many pupils to claim her time-manages to accomplish a great deal of work with both brush and needle.

At the exposition at Rome, not long since, she received a gold medal for her wonderful embroideries; while the success which attends her painting is as continuous as her subjects are varied. In looking at the latter one is often puzzled to know which to admire most, the originality and always excellent taste of her subject, the correctness of her drawing, or perfect harmony in color. To-day she dresses like a European, and owing Vol. XXXVII., No. 5-34.

Among her best-known work, we note a series of water colors on silk, representing "A Journey through the Indies "; and then "The Peach and the Page." A lovely landscape bit-of which, however, the accompanying photograph can give but a faint idea, so much does a picture of this kind lose when reduced to black and whiteis called "Japanese Foresters," and represents two peasant girls resting on a wall after a long and fatiguing walk, their bundle of fagots lying

$ votuar pemarcante und i gather 116 te work of tere 8 a memor saintet ola, and in a frame of aegie“, „haul Vita and mera...1 Imitation of the ifvent 125 ate.

frean towara aran get nost arstically, fiing and falling war the sites of warmen *** ta, ace) wie, forma que vole if a kender arintze Vase standing at the foot of le 11.]”. Vi..e from the top of tua latifans fiosoma aprai ont in all directioną, mining wi ang f grain and care, A some the dover, when lock a real that they seem to avay zengin the prese two biris hover, one rating just wer a en; if wheat, the other dying dovevari.

A "Japanese Fancy page 404 la a man study in binde, which inculd be seen * me inginal to be truly appreciated. The poorigin. however, gives at least an Impresión grouping of the feathered win genera,

Two important pictures of of Tama CVisrama are certainly known here, and are pertage la tined to remain in this wuntry, as the same 17er. last year, to grace the art extitita as the gras Fair. They are in oil. The frat la entitled, mis Has Fown": tuue record, “Vila Guill famons 6.1 garden at Pa erms.

O heart's despair!