The summers in Rome are, as every one knows, trying to the natives, and full of danger to foreigners. Dr. Hosmer, having seen his daughter finally settled, returned to America, leaving her with strict injunctions to seek some salubrious spot in the neighboring mountains for the summer, if indeed she did not go into Switzerland or England. Rome, however, was the centre of attraction; and, after the first season, which was spent at Sorrento, on the Bay of Naples, Miss Hosmer could not be prevailed upon to go out of sight and reach of its lordly dome and noble treasures of art. The third summer came, and, listening to the advice of her friends, and in obedience to the express wish of her father, she made arrangements for a visit to England. The day was settled, the trunks were packed; she was on the eve of departure, when a letter from America arrived, informing her of heavy losses sustained by her father, which must necessitate retrenchment in every possible way, a surrender of her career in Rome, and an immediate return home.

The news came upon her like a thunderbolt. Stunned and bewildered, she knew not at the moment what to do. An only child, and hitherto indulged in every whim and caprice, the position was indeed startling and perplexing. The surrender of her art-career was the only thing which she felt to be impossible; whatever else might come, that could not, should not be. And now came into play that true independence of character which hitherto had shown itself mostly in wild freaks and tricks. Instead of falling back upon those friends whose means she knew would be at her disposal in this emergency, she dispatched a messenger for the young sculptor who had shown the daguerreotypes to Mr. Gibson, and who, himself dependent upon his professional exertions, was, she decided, the fittest person to consult with as to her own future career. He obeyed the hasty summons, and found the joyous, laughing countenance he had always known, pale and changed, as it were, suddenly, from that of a young girl to a woman full of cares and anxieties. He could scarcely credit the intelligence; but the letter was explicit; the summons home peremptory. “Go, I will not,” was her only coherent resolution; so the two laid their heads together. Miss Hosmer was the owner of a handsome horse and an expensive English saddle; these were doomed at once. The summer in Rome itself, during which season living there costs next to nothing, was determined upon; and during those summer months Miss Hosmer should model something so attractive that it should insure a speedy order, and, exercising strict economy, start thenceforth on an independent artist-career, such as many of those around her with less talent and training, managed to carry on with success. No sooner said than done; the trunks were unpacked; the friends she had been about to accompany departed without her; her father’s reverses were simply and straightforwardly announced, and she entered at once on the line of industry and economy she and her friend had struck out.

It is said that friendship between a young man and a young woman is scarcely possible, and perhaps, under ordinary circumstances, where the woman has no engrossing interests of her own, no definite aim and pursuit in life, it may be so. Here, however, was a case of genuine and helpful friendship, honorable alike to the heads and hearts of both. Under the experienced direction of her friend, Miss Hosmer conducted her affairs with prudence and economy, and, at the same time, with due regard to health. The summer passed away, and neither fever nor any other form of mischief attacked our young friend. She worked hard, and modeled a statue of Puck, so full of spirit, originality, and fun, that it was no sooner finished than orders to put it into marble came in. It was repeated again and again, and, during the succeeding winter, three copies were ordered for England alone—one for the Duke of Hamilton. Thus fairly started on her own ground, Miss Hosmer met with that success which talent, combined with industry and energy, never fails to command.

The winter in which the Cenci was being put into marble she was engaged in modeling a monument to the memory of a beautiful young Catholic lady, destined for a niche in the church of San Andréo delle Fratte, in the Vià Mercede, close upon the Piazza di Spagna. A portrait full-length figure of the young girl, life size, reclines upon a low couch. The attitude is easy and natural, and the tranquil sleep of death is admirably rendered in contradistinction to the warm sleep of life in the Cenci.

Miss Hosmer was engaged during the winter of 1858 in modeling a fountain, for which she has taken the story of Hylas descending for water, when, according to mythology, he is seized upon by the water-nymphs and drowned. Hylas forms the crown of the pyramid, while the nymphs twined around its base, with extended arms, seek to drag him down into the water below, where dolphins are spouting jets which interlace each other. A double basin, the upper one supported by swans, receives the cascade.

During the spring of 1859 Miss Hosmer worked upon her statue of Zenobia, bespoken in America. The young Prince of Wales visited her studio to see this unfinished work, which he greatly admired. He purchased a “Puck,” by her hand, to add to his collection. Miss Hosmer executed, as a side-piece to this, a “Will-o’-the-Wisp,” said even to be superior.

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