Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-03-26
MISCELLANY.
GILBERT STUART, OF r. ISLAND.
THE WASHINGTON PAINTER.


in England. Some of his fellow travel
lers in the coach, interested in his APP
pearance, resolved to "spie him out, p
and TO that end plumply asked him the
nature of his calling and profession.
To this round question Mr.. Stuart an
swered with grave face, and serious
tone, that he sometimes dressed gentle
mems and ladies' hair at the time the
high craped pomatumed hair was all the
fashion. you are hair dresser then!
"Wbat" said he, lido you take me for
a barbcr?" 81 beg your pardon, sir, but
! inferred it from what you said. IL
mistook you what may ] call you then"
Why, | sometimes brush gentleman's
boot or hat, and sometimes adjust cra-
vat. ooh, you are varlet then to some
nobleman" ga varlet! Indeed sir am
not am not a servaHt;-to be sure l
make coats and waistcoats for gentle
men," "Oh you are a tailor" "Tai-
lor! do look like tailor? assure you
| never handled goose other than a
roasted one" BY this time they were
all in a roar "What the devil are you,
then, said one?' "I'll tell you said Stu
art, be assured all ] have said is literally
true. dress hair, brush hats and coats,
adjust a cravat, make coats and waist
coats, and breeches, and likewise boots
and shoes, at your service!" Oh boot
and shoemaker, after all. "Guess again,
gentlemen, l never handled boot or
shoe, but for ny own feet and legs; all |
have told you is true" "We may as
well give up guessing" After check
ing his laughter and pumping up fresh
flow of spirits, he said TO them very
gravely-"I will not play the fool with
you any longer, but will tell you upon
my honor as gentleman, my bona tide
profession. get my bread by making
faces" He then screwed his counte-
nance, and twisted the lineaments Of his
visage in a manner such as Samuel
Foote, or Charles Mathews might have
envied. When his companions, after
loud peals Of laughter, had composed
themselves,-each took credit for him
self for having all the while suspected
that the gentleman belonged to the the
atre, and they knew he must be come
dian by profession, when he assured
them TO their utter surprise, that he was
never on the stage, and very rarely saw
the inside of a play house, or any place
Of amusement They all now looked at
each other with utter astonishment
/ Before parting, Stuart said to his com.
panioas, gentlemen, you will find all l
have said Of my various employments, is
comprised in these few words-I am a
portrait painter. Fyou will call at John
Palmer's, York buildings London, shall
be ready and willing to brush you coat
or hat, dress you hair a la MODE, sup
ply you, if you need, with wig of any
fashion or dimensions, accommodate you
with boots or shoes, give you ruffles or
cravats, and make faces for you"
| While taking glass at the inn, they
begged leave to inquire Of their pleasant
companion in what part Of Engla he
was born; he told them he was not born
in Eng land, Wales, Ireland or Scotland.
Here was another puzzle for John Bull
"Where them" 81 was born at Nara
gansett, RI" "Where's that?" "Six
miles from Pattacum, and ten miles from
Po2pasquash, and about four miles west
| Of Connecticut, and not far from the spot
where the battle with the warlike Pc
quots was fought" ain what part of
the East Indies is that, sir"' "East In
dies, my dear sir! 1t is in the State of
Rhode. Island, between Massachusetts
and Connecticut river" This was all
Greek to his companions, and he left
them to study new lesson Of geogra-
ply.
| Although our greatest portrait painter
is but recently deceased-already the
place Of his nativity is disputed, and con-
tending towns claim the honor Of produc-
ing this extraordinary genius; we will re-
though no man can be competent wit
ness in the case.
GA few years before his death, two
Artists Of Philadelphia visited MIR. Stu
art, at his residence in Boston. These
gentlemen, Messrs. Longacre and Nea-
gle, had made the journey for the sole
purpose Of seeing and deriving instruc-
ton from the veteran. While sitting
with him on one occasion, MIR. Neagle
asked him for pinch of snuff from his
ample box, out Of which he was profuse-
ly supplying his own nostrils ] will
give il to you, said he, but advise you
not to take it. Snuff taking is perni-
cious, vile, dirty habit, and like all bad
habits, TO be carefully avoided. "Your
practice contradicts your precept, Mr..
Stuart" "sir, can't hel it. Shall
tell you a story ,, You we've neither of
you in England, so ! must describe an
English coach of my time: