Ir has occurred to me, on looking over tlie articles on floner- 

 painting I have previously written for the Woman's Magazine, 

 that my readers must have formed the opinion that I am a most 

 pessimistic person ; because all through I seem to be preaching 

 about the difficulties lying in wait for us when we try to reproduce 

 the wonders of Nature's works. But, believe me, the very last thing 

 I wished was to be discouraging ! I was aiming to impress upon 

 my fellow students of natural beauty my sympathy with tlicir 

 struggles, because my own seem to increase every day ! There 

 ought, I think, to exist a kind of camaraderie between us. 

 "Companions in misfortune" I was going to say, but that is not 

 quite what I mian ; for the consciousness of our own limitations is 

 »ot a misfortune, it is a very great asset to our ultimate success. 



Nevertheless, I think it is a comforting thought for us to 

 remember, when fits of depression come over us, that, after all, it 

 is a healthy feeling, and one shared alike by the humblest beginners, 

 and by those whose achievements have earned them a high place in 

 the world of Art. 



I once heard of an old village nurse, whose formula of consolation 



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