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(CJccurisbt. 1909. Hlrptr & Bmtbtn. Kew Tort I
One of Elizabeth Shfppen Green's Delightful Women Drawn
to Illustrate "The Enemy" But the Real Enemy,
" "Declared the' Sisterhood, Is a Man.
LIKE a tbree-tegged stool with
one leg gone is the "Red Rose
Inn." The "Red Rose Inn" is.
or rather teas, the borne of the three
best known women artists in the
country Miss Elisabeth .Shlppen
Green, Miss Violet Oakley afid Miss
Tessle Wilcox Smith.
The "inn" was not only their home
tint the citadel of their beloved Art.
Located in a secluded section not
far from Philadelphia, it was not
only admirably salted for the bach
elor existence to which the girls had
'committed themselves, but it like
wise protected their Art from out
side dangers. Not even Cupid, with
all bis wiles and cunning, oocid
ever cross its threshold.
At least so thought these three
bachelor girls when they took pos
session of the beautiful old tavern.
In the most sotenra manner. Isdl
ridually and collectively, they vowed
that never, no never, would they for
sake their Art nor each other no,
not even for love!
That was eight years ago. Now.
Elizabeth Shlppen Green is Elisa
beth Sblppeo Greem no longer. Last
week she became Mrs. Huger Elliot
That is why "Red Rose Inn" to-day
Is like a three-legged stool with one
leg gone.
The pretty story of the comrade
ship of these three lady musketeers
of art might never have been toid
but for its unexpected disruption by
the marriage of Miss Green. The
rout of the knights of tbepatette
and brush is the more complete In
that it was Miss Green who sus
lested the compact. Cupid may well
jeel proud of his signal victory.
Miss Green was
never reaHy a
man-hater, but she
decided long
that to give full
expression to her
art she must live
for her art alone.
One day in I93
she happened to
sound her two
closest chums.
Miss Oakley and
Miss Smipi. on the
subject, and found
that their senti
ments were about
the same as ber
own.
"Why not let us
combine forces,"
she s u g g e s ted.
'and consecrate
onr lives to rtf"
The very thtag!"
agreed the others
io unison.
'The Mansion."
"Well, I know the best place in all
the world where we can carry out
our purpose." declared Miss Green.
"It is at Cogslea, In the Creseeim
Valley. It's called the. Red Rose
Inn, and Ifs Just the dearest place!
We will rent the place jointly and
can devote the rest of our lives to
art without fear of outside in
fluences." Arrangements were easily made
and the three girls were soon set
tled in the old tavern. Their oaly
intercourse with the outside world
was such as was incidental to the
disposal of their work. Every one
of them woo distinction.
Miss Oakley became .famous
through her work on the State Cap
ital Building at Harrisburg, and
Miss Green and Miss Smith achieved
phenomena! success as delineators of
children and other character? for
the magazines and children's books.
Miss Green's work is now appear
ing exclusively in the Harper publi
cations. Through the courtesy of
that publishing house some of her
most characteristic drawings are re
produced on this page.
In 1M7. while the compact was
still in force, the Harpers commis
sioned Miss Green to Illustrate a
story appearing In Harper's Maga
zine. This story, prophetically enough,
was called "Raising a Family"
At the time both Miss Oakley and
Miss Smith were -much perturbed at
the sinister portent of Mlae Green's
assignment
.l1 bope the t,me wHI er come.
Elisabeth." said Miss Oakley, se
verely, "when you will Illustrate
this story in any other way than
through the expression of your art"
"Well, the Idea! I should say
not!" responded Miss Green, indig-
(Cotirndit. 1810. Hanxr & Brother,. N
A Dream of Miss Green Before She Decided to Wed.
Copyrtefct, 191
jlf-1 j M 1 i ili 3
"And there was their cher
ished companion, just for
getting all about her
vows. Art! to the
nantly. "Do you suppose for a rao
icent that I would forsake art for
matrimony 7 Never!"
This assurance satisfied the titer
two for the time belag, and was no
doubt perfectly sincere, for at that
time Miss Green was not even ac
quainted with Mr. Elliot, but at the
same time the incident occasioned
more or less misgivings upon the
part of her comrades.
"We ought to keep a strict watch
on Elizabeth," declared Miss Oakiey
Yotti
or American-Examiner- Great Britain
fQiKLjg
"8
gygtj
iyfiy
Famous Illustrator
E-lizabeth Shippen Green
Wasn't Proof Against
the Persuasive "Raising
a Family" Suggestion,
and So the Delightful
Sisterhood of the Rose
Tree Inn Is Now No More.
I : EUZABl"ri.gj
to if
Miss Green. Drawn by Vfolet 'Oakley,
One of the Bereaved Siatersln-Art.
Rights Reserved.
zj"-rJ .
ft -" V
to Miss Smith, "she is so romantic,
you know, and" might fan us."
But as the years weat by and their
unreasonable suspicions bore ao
frnlt. the girls began to feel reas
sured. There were times, of course, when
one or the other of the trio would
leave the studio for a short period
to pay some social visit, and on such
occasions the other girls In their
lonely fortress would spend sleep
less alghts until the return of their
comrade for fear that she might for
get her vow and fall by the wayside.
"I've really got to spend a few
days at Philly. girls." Miss Green,
perhaps, would say. -Will you hold
the fort till I get back?"
"Yes. yes. of course," the others
rirarfarht. 1M0.
"And instantly I was in love."-
jany fP- fc jnajSL .2E f " Hn&9nnB 4 nnp
, - wsfr.. ?jpL a Jv i ,wr
) 1!
Jp
'fv& t fer-.. rToBl ig - k
'Raisins a Family," One of a Series of Prophetic Picture
Dealing With Domesticity Which Mis Green, Now Mrs.
Elliot, Drew in 1907.
would chime in. "but don't you think
you had better repeat the oath of
allegiance before you go. It gives
one so much strength, yon know."
And then the three, it Is said, each
with palette and brush in hand, is
solemn accents would repeat a
quaint vow which, perhaps, raa
something like this:
"While red Is red and blue to blue
To art may I be ever true.
To art alone I'll give my life;
No man shall ever can me wife."
How potent this simple formula
was may best be Judged by be fact
'that if stood the test for eight years.
Xo one Is able to tell bow It finally
lost its charm, but a few months
ago Miss Green's absences from the
inn became more and more frequent
and lengthy. Her comrades became
suspicious. They learned, with mis
givings, that Elizabeth was spending
altogether too much time in Provi
dence, and although the notes she
sent tbem were written on the letter
heads of the RhoJe Island School of
Design, they began to fear that she
was more interested In the gallant
director of that school, Mr. Huger
Elliot, than in the art which they
worshipped in common.
"We'll put ber to the test when
she comes back." the two conspira
tors decided. -Well make her re
peat the vow as soon as she arrives.
while the influence of ber trip Is
still upon her."
The scheme worked. Upon "her
return. Miss Green was asked to
make the vow
"Well, girls," she faltered. "I
hardly think that is necessary. I'm
always willing to take the vow when
1 go away, the Mime as you do. but
we have lievrr thought it necessary
to repeat it upon o.ir return."
"But I'll repeat it now." said Miss
-Another Prophetic Picture by
HI; . rJF P
rJr.JTm; JR. -.. s
- .:
Smith, "and
I haven't been awiy
at all."
"And so will V protested Miss
Oakley, "and what's more. Elizabeth.
yon might as wen 'less up at oace;
you're afraid to take the Vow be
cause you intend to break it Isn't
that so?"
Mhs Green conlaa't keep it la any
longer.
Tes. sWs. I'm sorry, bat Tm en
gaged. I'm gotog to get"
"Ob, for heaven's sake, don't say
the word!" moaned Miss Oakley.
"How could yon do it Elisabeth.
you bad girt!" wept Miss Smith.
. "And after aU these years, too,"
added Miss Oakley.
"And who is he, and is he a bloadt
or a brunette, and is he an artist
and how long have you known himr
suddenly asked Mies Santa, her
womanly curiosity overaomlng for
the moment her outraged devotion
to her art.
These and the many other ques
tions along the snuM line which fol
lowed in quick sneeession the happj
Miss Green answered at great length,
but space forbids a full record oi
ber answers.
When their curiosity was satisfied,
however, her two comrades returned
to their attack upon ber for her de
sertion of the cause. During the
days and weeks that followed they
repeatedly begged her to reconsider
her purposed marriage, but she was
steadfast
-For the sake of old times, Elisa
beth, if not fo art. give ud thr
idea!" they pleaded, but it was all
in vain.
.Last week the eeremonv was ner
formed at the studio. The bride's
two comrades were present, but
tears drowsed the smiles they tried
. summon for the
occasion, for the
strains of the wed
ding march sound
d in their ears
like a funeral
dirge, and, as the
last wedding gues:
left tliat night, the
two artists, pal
ettes aud brushes
in hand, stood sad
ly iu the centre oT
the floor and re
peated their weak
ened vow:
"While red U red
and bine is blue
To art may I be
ever true
To art alone m
give my life;
No man shall ever
call ne wife."
And there was a
significant empha
sis on the "me."
Miss Green.