Page:Life of Isaiah V Williamson.djvu/186

162 Philada., Feby. 24, 1877.

My dear Anna Mary:—

For a long time past I have been counting the months, weeks, and even the days, until the weather will probably be pleasant enough for me to visit "Clover Hill." I long to see Nature in her New Spring Bonnet and Dress. Although she makes no change in Colors and Styles from year to year, with Bustles, Chignons, etc., as do our Fashionable Chestnut St. Belles, still her style is always neat, in good taste, and beautiful. I think she must belong to "Friends Meeting."

I never could understand why so many people sacrifice time, talent and money to obtain Copies of Nature, when the originals which ought to be, and are, so much more beautiful, are open and free to all without money and without price. What I refer to more particularly is that numbers of persons will travel all over Europe visiting the different Galleries for the purpose in a great measure of seeing the most celebrated Pictures, many of which are Landscapes and Marine Views, while in numerous cases they pass by the originals (in seeking the Copies) without even a passing notice. Suppose one of the most celebrated Artists of Europe, or of the World, were to paint a Landscape from a view taken on the line of Rail Road between this City and Pittsburg where thousands of persons pass daily, and place the Copy on exhibition in this City, there would probably be ten persons to see the Copy where there would be one that would see, or look for, the original; and what makes it the more surprising that this should be so, is that God is the Author and Man the Artist.

I often think of the old adage, "Once a man and