A Famous Woman Sculptor

Mr. Forrest Crissey, iu his article on "Women Sculptors of Cliicago,"in The Woinaii's Home Cornpanion, says of Miss Julia AI. Brackeii: "Witli a jackknife she whittled f rom blocks of wood desigus which brought her to the attention of several prominent citizens of Galena, aud ultimately resulted in opening the way for her to attend the Chicago Art institute. At first she entered the drawing class, but very soon 'dropped into sculpture' before entering the regular modeling course. That the hand of fate and not a fickleness of purpose wrought this change was soon evidenced by modeling 6ufficiently brilliant to not only startle her associates, but to bring her orders before she had taken a single regular lesson iu the art of sculpture. ' ' Wheii Mr. Taf t returned f rom a trip abroad and this shy, slender young stranger froin the country was first seen by him at her work in the modeling room, he was surprised into the remark that 'she handles the clay as if it were her native element. ' Aliss Bracken was at once engaged as an assistant in his studio, vvhere she remained for seven years. At the World's fair she was his chief of staff and had charge of the troop of young women who worked under his direction upon the decorations of the horticultural building. "The latest piece from Miss Bracken's studio is a fine bust of Sir Moses Montefiore, the celebrated Jewish philanthropist of London, who died at the age of more than 100 years. She is now engaged on a relief medallion for the Union soldiers' monument atMissionary Ridge, Tenn. It represents a stirring scène, contains five portrait figures and is a strong piece of work. ' '