to the young ladies in
drawing, and I, too, am availing myself of his tutorship."

Through his strong Republican tendencies Scheffer had very naturally
drifted into the company of those who knew Lafayette. The artist knew the
history of the great man and was familiar with his American career.
Scheffer was interested in America, for the radicals with whom he
associated were well aware that there might come a time when they would
have to seek hastily some hospitable clime where to think was not a
crime. And indeed, it is but natural that those with a penchant for
heresy should locate a friendly shore, just as professional criminals
study the extradition laws.

Lafayette, Franklin and Washington had long been to Scheffer a trinity of
familiar names, and when an opportunity came to be introduced to the
great Franco-American patriot he gladly took advantage of it.

Lafayette was sixty-one; Scheffer was twenty-three, but there at once
sprang up a warm friendship between them. Not long after their first
meeting Scheffer was invited to come to La Grange and make it his home as
long as he cared to.

The Little Mother urged the acceptance of such an invitation. To
associate for a time with the aristocratic world would give the young man
an insight into society and broaden his horizon.

In the family of Lafayette, Scheffer mingled on an equality with the
guests. His conversation was earnest, serious and elevated; and his
manner so gracious and courtly that he won the respect of all he met.
Lady Morgan intimates that his simplicity of manner tempted the young
ladies who were members of his class in drawing to cut various innocent
capers in his presence, and indulge in sly jokes which never would have
been perpetrated had the tutor been more of a man of the world.

It has happened more than once that men of the highest spirituality have
had small respect for religion, as it is popularly manifested. The
machinery of religion and religion itself are things that are often
widely separated; and Ary Scheffer was too high-minded and noble to
worship the letter and relinquish the spirit that maketh alive. He was of
that type that often goes through the world scourged by a yearning for
peace, and like the dove sent out from the Ark finding no place to rest.
All about he beheld greed, selfishness, hypocrisy and pretense. He longed
for simplicity and absolute honesty, and was met by craft and diplomacy.
He asked for religion, and was gi