The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-05-26
gtlttteh Gatts.
From Hapsrs Magazine.
MY TRAVELLING COMPANION,

MY picture was failure. Partial
friends had guaranteed its success but
the Hanging Committee and the Press are
not composed of ones partial friends.-
The Hanging Committee thrust me into
the darkest corner Of the octagon-room,
and the press ignored my existence-ex-
cepting in one instance, when my critic
dismissed me in a quarter Of line az a
"presumptuous dauber." was stunned
with the blow, for had counted 80 &C.
curely on the E200 at which my grand
historical painting was dog-cheap-not to
speak of the deathless fame which il was
tocreate for me--tbst felt like q mere
wreck when my hopes wore hung to the
ground, and the untasted cup dashed from
my lips. took to my bed and was Sc
riously iii. The doctor bled me till fsin-
ted, and theh said, that he had saved me
from brain-fever. That might be, but
he veiy nearly threw me into consump-
ton, only that had deep chest and q
good digestion. Pneumonia expansion
and active chyle saved me from an early
tomb, yet l was too unhappy to be CRATE
full.
But Why did my picture faili Surely
it possessed all the elements of success |!
Itwas 6randly HISTORICAL in subject, original
ttreatmens, pure in coloring what, then, in
was wanting1 This old warriors head,
Of true Saxon. type had all the Majesty Of
Michael Angelo; that young figure, all
the radiant grace Of Correggio no Rem
brandt showed more severe dignity than
yon burnt lumber monk in the corner and
Titan never excelled the loveliness Of this
cobalt virgin in the foreground. Why
did It not succeedi The subject, too
the Finding Of the Body of Harold by
Torch-light was sacred to all Enpksh
hearts; and being conceived in an entire
ly'new original manner, 1t was redeemed
from the charge oftriteness and wearisome-
ness. The composition was pyramidal,
the appex being torch borne aloft for the
f% high light" and the vase showing some
very novel effects Of herbage and armor.
But it failed. All my skill, all my hope
! my careless endeavor, my burning visions,
all-all had failed and was only poor,
{ haafstarved painter, in Great Rowland
street, whose landlady was daily abating
! IN her respect and the butcher daily aba
ting in his punctuality; whose garments
were getting threadbare, and his dinners
hypothetical and whose day-dreams ot
fame and fortune had faded into the dull
gray If penury and disappointment.
!. Me broken-hearted, III, hungry; so I &C.
..-';.atio:c from friend, q rich
.spo.u "n n,':-- N. lem. TO po down
10 his house for the Christmas ncc.IIs.ys
He haA . pleasant place in the midst OF
some iSeR-woskA the blazing chimneys oi
which, he assmeA me, would afford some
exquisite ssudies,of light effects.
By mistake, went by the express
I. train, and 30 was thrown into the society
dfalady whose position would have rem,
dered any acquaintance with her impossi
bie,. excepting under such Shasce-condi
tons a. the present, and whose hiseory
as learned Il afterward, led me TO reflec
much on the difference betwecn the reali
. ay and the seeming of Rfe. @ .
She moved my casgy. Yes-@base,meau
low, nnartistic, degrading ~ d tl,is pas
sion, I felt It rise up like . snake IN M,
breast when saw that feeble won1ah.--
She was splendidly dressed--wraPPed i
,faFs of the most costly kind, trailing be
hind her velvets and lace worth coin
Etees's dowTy. She was attended by obss
: quioua inenials; surrounded BY luxuries
her compeftinsnt Of the carriage was 4
perfect palace in ell the sccessofies whicl
stwas possible 30 collect IN 90 ANAL spac.
and ID seemed as though aCleop0tfa'
cup " would have been no iinprActicabl
draueht fOe her. sshe gave me moi