Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-01-31
From the Lives Of Artists.
GILBERT STUART.

from the Lives OF ArtlStS.
GILBERT STUART
The Yankees have become notorious for
their question-asking propensity, yet some-
times John Bull exhibits so remarkable
Development of this trait, we must conclude
that Jonathan and John are at least cousins.
A good anecdote is related of Gilbert Stuart,
celebrated American portrait painter,
whose replies puzzled the inquisitiveness of
his English travelling companions, in their
attempts to find out his calling.
On one occasion, Stuart was travelling in
stage-coach, in England, with some gen
tlemen who were strangers to him, but all
Of whom were sociable and full Of animation.
His brilliant conversational powers attracted
much attention, and his companions became
desirous to know acho and vhat he was
They asked many roundabout questions, to
find out his calling or profession. Mr..
Stuart answered, with grave face and Sc
rious tone, that he sometimes dressed gen.
tlemen's and ladies' hair
"You are hair-dresser, then % remark
ed one of his companions, inquiringly.
"What!' said he; edo you take me for a
barber? ?"
Il beg your pardon, sir, but inferred
it from what you said If [ mistook you,
may take the liberty to ask what you are,
then %
"Why l sometimes brush gentleman's S
coat or hat, and sometimes adjust cravat. :"
80, you are valet, then, to some noble
man."
GA valet! Indeed, sir, I am not. lam
not a servant; to be sure, make coats and
waistcoats for gentlemen.
80, you are tailor?
s'Tailor! Do [ look like tailor? [ as
sure you I never handled goose, other than
roasted one"
BY this time the passengers were all in a
roar; and one of the party exclaimed
''What are you, then?''
"Pll tell you," said Stuart. ''Be assur-
ed all I have said is literally true. [ dress
hair, brush hats and coats, adjust cravat,
and make coats, waistcoats, and breeches,
and likewise boots and shoes, at your SER
uice."
''Oho! a boot and shoe maker, after all p
''Guess again, gentlemen. Inever han
died boot or shoe but for my own feet and
legs . yet all I have told you is true"
''Wem may as we'll give up guessing, then, y
remarked one of the party. -ss.
! After checking his laughter, he said to
them, very gravely, CHOW, gentlemen, |
will not play the fool with you, but will tell
you, upon my honor as gentleman, bona
Jidc, my profession. I get my bread by
making faces" He then screwed his coun-
tenance, and twisted the lineaments of bis
visage in 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 to himself for having, all the
while, suspected that the gentleman belong
ed to the theatre; and now they all knew
that he must be a comedian by profession
But to their utter surprise, he assured them
that he never was on the stage, and very
rarely saw the inside of any theatre. His
companions now all looked at him and at
each other with astonishment.
Before parting, Stuart said to his com;
panions, ''Gentlemen, you will find that all
1 have said Of my various employments, is
comprised in these few words: am por-
trait painter. If you will call at John Pal.
mer's York Buildings, London, [ shall be
ready and willing to brush you coat or hat
dress your hair la mode, supply you, if il
need, with a wig, of any fashion or dimen
sions, accommodate you with boots or shoes
give you rufHes or cravats, and make face
: for you.
On parting with him at the Sun, they
begged leave to inquire in what part of Eng
} land he was born. He replied, Il was no
) born in England, Wales, ireland, or Scot
land" Here was another puzzle for them
and ''Where, then?" was their eager in
quiry.
; Il was born at Narraganset," was his re
} ply.
: "Where's that?' F173
) ''Six miles from Pottawoone. and tel
} miles from Poppasquash, and about fou
) miles west of Connecticut, and not far from
the spot where the famous battle with the
! Pequots was fought"
s'In what part of the East Indies is that
sir?'' was the response.
'sEast Indies, my dear sir it is in the
State of Rhode Island, between Massachu.
setts and the Connecticut River" b..
, This was all Greek to his companions
, and he left them to study a new lesson in
geography, affording another instance of the
ignorance respecting men of genius, whose
vernacular tongue is the same as that of Ba-
con, Newton, Locke, Shakespeare, Milton,
and Pope.
HUMAN FoRGIvENEss.- Let cynics say
what they will, man is not vindictive. Here
for years we have been subject to the daily
torture Of wearing the hat, and we haven't
even preserved the name of the wretch who
; invented IT, - .als..5.3 8 = ---b 1.<EE =.