A HERO’S WIDOW

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8364, 26 February 1913, Page 2

A HERO’S WIDOW

DISTTN G UISHED ARTIST. PERSONAL SKRTCH OF MRS SCOTT. Mrs Scott- has claims to public recognition other than the fact of being the widow of one of the greatest heroes of the Empire, says the “Sydney Morning Herald.” Her maiden name was Edith Agnes Kathleen BrUce, and she was married to Captain Scott on September 2nd, IPOS, in the Chapel Royal, Hampton Court Palace. if she had not been a relation of Sir Henry Bruce, with her genealogical tree in Debrett’s, she would yet be noted for her art, and perhaps for her aviation, for every week-end when at home she spends a considerable time aloft in an aeroplane. There is an idea that no man is a hero to his valet or his wife, but Mrs Bcbtt scouts that idea. “My husband is a hero," she iterates, “the more 1 know of him the greater he becomes in my mind.” Sculptors look upon Mrs Scott as one of the best —certainly the best known —pupil of the great French sculptor, Rodin. She has already executed several splendid statues, the most important being that of the late Hon. C. S. Rolls, the first British airman' to fly the Channel. Another work —strongly suggestive of her master Rodin —is a statue called “Motherhood,” while still more after tho style of her tutor »is “The Stolen Baby." But her art does not consist exclusively in reproducing abstract ideas. She has- a wonderful gift for portraiture. With a few deft movements of her fingers she evolves from a piece of clay a lifelike presentation ot well-known people. Originally she decided to be a pain ter, and went to Paris to study her art, but on the first day she attended the class she was struck with the serious, sombre, not to say funeral aspect, of the spectacled spinster students and the room. “Heavens,” she thought, “if I stay here i may tuffi into one of these. Horrible thought. If this is what painters do, then it is not for me.” But on walking dejectedly down the street she heard a sound of revelry by day. It was a song with a roliioaing Norwegian lilt, and it just entioea her into the studio, it was a mixed class of students modelling and laugning. And as they laughed and sang and worked the lumps of ciay grew into joyous forms and figures. So Instanter she decided to be a modeller and a sculptress, and She has nevei regretted her Choice, fot to-day her clay creations are to be found in the salons of many European cities. But she likes doing portraits of wellknown people, especially men. Thar is why her Rolls statue was so successful. An interesting pen picture of the lady at work is recorded by Air Sewell Collins, who visited her studio. As she talked there grew out of a chunk of mud a remarkable likeness to the keen aggressive head of Dr Nansen, “My ambition,’’ She said, smearing a slice of clay along Dr Nauseh’s cheekbohe, “is to do portraits of men. i don’t want to do women; only meh. It is much more fun.” , , . ‘‘Men are easiest,’,' she added, giving the JNoraegian explorer a savage jab in the eye. “Pay,”'exclaimed Mrs Scott, squeezing a piece of Dr Nansen’s frost-bitten oat. . . . “When the subject ot money is raised my hopes are lowered. . . The . best thihgs 1 do are the things I Make for my own amusement —portraits of tny friehds, . . , 1 do them because I like them. . . . And when I get a bona-fide business order for something, I feel that I’ll fail. I’m trembling all the time I’m doing it, thinking whether it is going to please the customer ot not,” Again she unwound a wot oioth from another bust, and revealed the kindly features of the Prime Minister. She tied Mr Asquith up so significantly that the interpreter asked if She were a suffragist. “1 aih hot,’’ she replied. “I am a rabid anti-suffra-gist.”