"THE SHINING PATHWAY."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1699, 15 March 1913, Page 8

"THE SHINING PATHWAY."

SIR JOHN KIRK'S EULOGY. , Mr. Geo. Butler's latest and perhaps greatest picture "The Shining Pathway," exhibited at the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon last year, attracted a' good deal of attention in various quarters. Mr. J. C. Butler (father of the artist), who left .Wellington for England on Friday last, has received , word that Mr. Butler has disposed of the reproduction lights of the picture at u satisfactory figuro to a French firm. Writing of this picturc in the "Shaftesbury Magazine" of January, Sir John Kirk, head of the Ragged School Union, said':—"A beautiful and suggestive picture in the Royal Academy of May, 1912, with,tho title of "The Shining Pathway," greatly arrested my attention. Tho canvas told its simple story at a glance, and yet left enough matter for closer study and reflection to gratify tho steadiest and amplest gaze. A boundary coast-lino raised up from tho shore revealed scanty vegetation, commingled with a carpet of fine sand. Upon tliis was. grouped negligently, together a few little .children; a section was playing in an irregular circle, whilst others stood gazing intently seaward all being suffused with bright rays of a glorious sun. These gleams were so strong that the elder children shaded their eyes against the fierco brightness. In tho centre of the glowing ball of firocoulil be outlined the facial Torm of the Sun of Righteousness. The children all were happy—all wero in tho sun, andxiveil the little tots who seemed unconscious of the dominance of the life-giving orb, were yet enjoying the warmth and geniality of its permeating influence—lo quoto a somewhat hackneyed phrase, tho dear little, happy children had 'a place in the sun.' The charm of the whole subject, and tho conscious atmosphere of love manifest in depicting it prompted n letter to the artist, although a total stranger. This elicited a courteous explanation that the painter's wife had composed tho accompanying verse, and then one no longer wondered at the happy result, for the brush had worked in 'unison with tho pen." Strangely enough, there is at the present time a very fine study in oils of a mother bending lovingly over her baby being exhibited at Butler's Studio on Lambton Quay. The' painting of the baby is particularly good, the artist having caught its rotundity and the bright innocence that shines trom its eyes. The attitude is capital, and the painting of tho flesh is excellent. Tho painting is one of ill's. Butler and her baby by tho successful Wellington artist, who has now been resident ill England for some years. KICKED ON THE KNEE. When preparing his horse to carry people to tho Bulls races, Mr. Duncan 11. Stevens, of South St., Fielding, N.Z., was kicked on tho kneo by one of his animals, and could not 'stand for hours. He states:—"l immediately applied ChamIwlaiu's Pain Balm, with wonderful results, for tho next day I was quite recovered. Am confident that I would have )>een unfitted for work only for this wonderful liniment. lam only too pleased to make this statement, for I know that thn»e who work round horses, are only too pleaded to hear of such a valuable liniment as Chamberlain's l'ain Balm."—

A lndy who alleged that the driver of a 'Ims near Karl's Court caused the.'bus to start «mldcnlv, with the result that she 101 l and broke leg,, was awarded .MOO damages iitfaiust the 'bus company. Isetioe of appeal was jivcoi