Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-01
DAILY EVENING STAR.
TIE SOLDIERS RANSOM,
A TRUE STORY.

WHICH adOrn the walls OF the Louvre, there
is one which may, perchance, have arrested
the eye of some amongst our readers, vying
as it does in warmth of coloring and vigor
of expression with some of the best paint
ings of the Dutch and Flemish school.
1t is named in the catalogues, "The
Blacksmith and his Family" and its history
is one SO full of touching and domestic in
terest, that We feel it ought not to pass un-
recorded.
There lived, in the seventeenth century,
two brothers, both painters,s and endowed
with equal talent, circumstance of rare
occurrence in the history of art
Their names were Louis and Antoine Le-
main. Born at Laen towards the close of
the sixteenth century, they were brought up
together, and through life remained iusepa-
rable. They had but one workshop, one
purse, one table the same spirit seemed to
animate them both in life, and in death they
were not divided, for they closed their earth
ly career within two days of each other, in
May, 1913.
Loving as they did, nature under her sim
piest aspect, and humanity in it's most prim-
tive and unsophisticatcd form, they passed
much Of their time in wandering amongst
| the cottages of the Cambresis, sketching
the peasant groups whom they met upon
| the road, or found seated around the cottage
| hearth, as we'll as the hardy laborer guiding
his oxen through the we'll ploughed field,
and the aged beggar who wandered desolate
and alone from door to dsor.
This simple style was then but little ap-
preciated in France, where the fine ladies
of the court disdained to admire even the
chef d deuvres Of the Flemish school. Our
young artists seemed therefore to have but
slight prospects of emerging from obscurity
and were pursuing their tranquil and un-
noticed career, when suddenl the hand of
death threatened to cut off the younger
brother in his prime, before single work
had been achieved which would cause his
name to be handed down to posterity
They had walked together to consider
able distance from home, in order to sketch
picturesque building, half farm-ho
half forge, such as are frequently to be met
with in that part of the country.
Whilst they were thus engaged, Antoine
was seized with severe illness. Louis, his
elder brother, wished to convey him to the
nearest inn, but soon found the attempt
impracticable, and was constrained to ac-
cept of the hospitality which was so cordi-
ally profered by the worthy blacksmith and
Ills family.
The name of these good people was Her
belot, and their domestic circle consisted
of the father of the family, his wife, their
three children, and an aged grandfather.
Each had his daily task to fulfil, and with
cheerful hearts did they each strive to ac-
complish it. The husband welded the
massive hammer, the eldest boy blew the
| bellows, his little brother carried the char
coal to feed the fame, and ran on their ia
theirs errands, whilst the BOD wife attend
ed to her domestic concerns, and even the
old man was ever ready to lend a helping
hand when his assistance was required.
These simple and kind hearted people
quickly prepared their best bed for the sick
| man, and Wed with each other, in their anx-
iety to do oil they could to alleviate kis
suffelings.
The best medicine in the world-we trust