Laughing Torso

LAUGHING TORSO

probably be cross to think that I had kept them.
Apparently Epstein was asked to sign them by the
man to whom I sold them. He was quite pleased
to do so and said, " These are drawings that I must
have done about twenty years ago." I used to go
two or three times a week, to hear the Negro
Spirituals and talk to Mrs. Reavis, who was most
charming and very beautiful. One day she told me
that a coloured dance was being given, and that the
President of Liberia and his family would be there.
There was first of all a conference where speeches
were made and they talked about the troubles of the
coloured races. I went with a friend of mine and we
with one other woman were the only white people
present. The orchestra were aching to play and
dance, and were getting rather bored with the
speeches. It all ended in a great deal of dancing
and a terrible lot of noise. I was introduced to the
President of Liberia and his wife and family. They
were very dark indeed, and the daughter, who was
about nine or ten, had the funniest hair, there was
hardly any of it and it was very short and woolly.
What intrigued me was how she had managed to
attach a large white bow of ribbon to it.
I was beginning to be very bored with London
and thought of returning to Paris as soon as I got
paid by the Art School; this was once every six
weeks, so I only had a very little money unless I
sold some pictures. I made enquiries about getting
a passport and found that it was quite easy for me.
I had to have a Belgian one. I waited anxiously for
lie term to finish and decided to go to Paris as soon
' ' ' ' '