Neither was it one of the new dances which , like a tarantula-bite , set every one a twirling , nor stage madness , nor yet that American lecturing influenza which yearly sweeps over the land . No , it was a new disease called the Art fever , and it attacked the young women of the community with great violence . Nothing but time could cure it , and it ran its course to the dismay , amusement , or edification of the beholders , for its victims did all manner of queer things in their delirium . They begged potteries for clay , drove Italian plaster-corkers out of their wits with unexecutable orders got neuralgia and rheumatism sketching perched on fences and trees like artistic hens , and caused a rise in the price of bread , paper , and charcoal , by their ardor in crayoning . They covered canvas with the expedition of scene-painters , had classes , lectures , receptions , and exhibitions , made models of each other , and rendered their walls hideous with bad likenesses of all their friends . Their conversation ceased to be intelligible to the uninitiated , and they prattled prettily of `` chiaro oscuro , French sauce , refraction of the angle of the eye , seventh spinus process , depth and juiciness of color , tender touch , and a good tone . '' Even in dress the artistic disorder was visible ; some cast aside crinoline altogether , and stalked about with a severe simplicity of outline worthy of Flaxman . Others flushed themselves with scarlet , that no landscape which they adorned should be without some touch of Turner 's favorite tint . Some were blue in every sense of the word , and the heads of all were adorned with classic braids , curls tied Hebe-wise , or hair dressed a la hurricane . It was found impossible to keep them safe at home , and , as the fever grew , these harmless maniacs invaded the sacred retreats where artists of the other sex did congregate , startling those anchorites with visions of large-eyed damsels bearing portfolios in hands delicately begrimed with crayon , chalk , and clay , gliding through the corridors hitherto haunted only by shabby paletots , shadowy hats , and cigar smoke . This irruption was borne with manly fortitude , not to say cheerfulness , for studio doors stood hospitably open as the fair invaders passed , and studies from life were generously offered them in glimpses of picturesque gentlemen posed before easels , brooding over master-pieces in `` a divine despair , '' or attitudinizing upon couches as if exhausted by the soarings of genius . An atmosphere of romance began to pervade the old buildings when the girls came , and nature and art took turns . There were peepings and whisperings , much stifled laughter and whisking in and out ; not to mention the accidental rencontres , small services , and eye telegrams , which somewhat lightened the severe studies of all parties . Half a dozen young victims of this malady met daily in one of the cells of a great art beehive called `` Raphael 's Rooms , '' and devoted their shining hours to modelling fancy heads , gossiping the while ; for the poor things found the road to fame rather dull and dusty without such verbal sprinklings . `` Psyche Dean , you 've had an adventure ! I see it in your face ; so tell it at once , for we are stupid as owls here to-day , '' cried one of the sisterhood , as a bright-eyed girl entered with some precipitation . `` I dropped my portfolio , and a man picked it up , that 's all . '' replied Psyche , hurrying on her gray linen pinafore . `` That wo n't do ; I know something interesting happened , for you 've been blushing , and you look brisker than usual this morning , '' said the first speaker , polishing off the massive nose of her Homer . `` It was n't anything , '' began Psyche a little reluctantly .
`` I was coming up in a hurry when I XXXXX against a man coming down in a hurry .
's bearing begged begrimed cried dropped drove gliding ran said