Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1856-01-16
From tie Lives oi Artists.
GILBERT STUART

GILBERT STUART
The Yankees have become notorious fr
their question-asking propensity, yet some
times John Bull exhibits SO remarkable a de-
velopment of this trait that we must conclude
that Jonathan and John arc at least cousins.
A good anecdote is related of Gilbert Stuart,
a celebrated American portrait painter, whose
replies puzzled the inquisisiyeness of his Eng
lish travelling companions in their attempts
to find out his calling
On one occasion, Stuart was travelling in a
stage-coach. in England. with some gentlemen
who were strangers to him, bat all of whom
were sociable and full of animation. His
brilliant conversational powers attracted much
attention. and his companions became desirous
to know ,cho and lrhot he was. They asked
many roundabout questions, to find out his
calling or profession Mr. Stuart answered
with grave face and serious tone, that be
sometimes dressed gentlemen's and ladies'
hair
q You are hair-dresser, then 2 remarked
one of his companions, inquiringly.
What - said he; :. do you take me for a
barber -
Il beg your pardon. sir, but inferred it
from what you said. If mistook you, may
l take the liberty to ask what you are then p
Why, l sometimes brush a gentemans
coat or hat, and sometimes adjust cravat"
90, you are valet, then, to some noble
man 2"
ga valet Indeed, sir. am hot. / am
not servant; to be sure, make coats and
waistcoats for gentleman"
g o, you are tailor?'
Tailor, Do look Ike tailor / as
sure you 1 never handled goose, other than
a roasted one"
BY this time the passengers were all in
roar; and one of the party exclaimed, "What
are you, then p
I'm tell you," said Stuart g Be assured
all have said is literally true. dress hair
brush hats and coats, adjust a cravat, and
make coats. waistcoats, and breeches, and
likewise boots and shoes, at yopr serricc"
:. Ohol boot and shoe maker, after al y
Guess again, gentlemen never han
died boot or shoe but for my own feet and
legs; yet all have told you is true"
g We may as well give up guessing, then"
remarked one of the party
After checking his laughter, he said to
them, very gravely. q Now, gentlemen, viii
not play the fool with you, but will tell you.
upon my honor as a gentleman bona tide, my
profession. 4 get nay bread by making faces.
lie then screwed his counsenance, and twisted
the lineamcnts Of his 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 belonged to the
theatre; and now they all knew that he must
be comedian by profession But to their
utter surprise, he assured them that he never
was on the stage, and very rarely saw the in
side of any theatre His companions now all
looked at him and at each other with aston
shment.
Before parting, Stuart said to his conpan-
ions, Gentlemen, you will find that all
have said of my various employmants. is COM
prised in these few words: 1 am q portrait
painter If you viii call at John Palmer's,
York Buildings London, shall be ready and
willing to brush you coat or hat, dress your
hair Ia mode, supply you. if in need, with q
wig, of any fashion or dimensions, aceommo-
date you with boots or shoes, give you ruffes
or cravats, and make faces for you"
On parting with him at the inn, they beg
ged leave to inquire in what part of England
he was born. He replied, . [ was not born
in England, Wales, Ireland or Scotland. -
Here was another puzzle for them; and
:. Where then = was their eager inquiry
90 was born at Narraganset," was his re-
ply.
=. Where's that p
''Six miles from Pottawoonc and ten miles
from Poppasquash, and about four miles west
of Connonicut and not far from the spot
where the famous battle sith the Pcquots was
fought"
:. In what part of the East Indies is that,
sir p was the response.
East Indias. my dear sir it is in the
State of Rhode Island. between Massachusetts,
and the Connecticut River"
This was all Greek to his companions; and
he left them to study a new lesson in geogra-
ply, affording another instance Of the ignoi-
ance respecting men of genius, whose vernac-
ular tongue is the same as that of Bacon
Newton, Locke. Shakespeare, Milton, and
Pope.