The Kanzas news., 1857-08-01
A Scene of Retribution.

A picture representing the sale of guam
tity of old furniture seized for rent was ex-
hibited some years back In the window of a
dealer IN the Place de Ia Madeleine, Paris,
and attracted considerable attention In
the foreground was placed poor woman
holding In her arms child, and watching
with sorrowing eye the progress of the
sale. The sweet face of the child stood out
in strong contrast to the distressed counte-
nance of the poor mother. Further back,
we see the personages connected with the
sale, represented with great vigor. The fol-
lowing is stated by Lyons journal to be
the history of the scene depicted:
ga few years since, the painter of the
picture in question, an eminent artist of Ly-
ons, while passing through the Rue des
Ferraux, approached a number of persons
who were gathered together witnessing the
sale of the furniture of poor woman. a
woman was seated on the pavement with a
child in her arms. The painter spoke to her,
and was told that the furniture which was
being sold belonged to her; that her hus-
band had lately died, leaving her with the
child she had in her arms; that she had strug-
gied hard to maintain herself by working
day and night, and submitting to every pri-
vation; but that her landlord had at length
seized her furniture for some months rent,
which was due him. The artist was much
affected by this simple recital, and inquired
who was her landlord. There he is re-
piled the poor woman, pointing to a man
who was watching the progress of the sale;
and he was recognized by the painter as a
person who was suspected of having amass-
ed considerable fortune by usury, so that
to make any appeal to his feelings on behalf
of the poor woman would be useless. The
artist was considering with himself what
other plan he could adopt to benefit her,
when the crier announced picture for SALE
1t was a miserable daub, which, in the sum-
mer, the poor woman had used to hide the
hole in the wall through which the stove
| pipe passed during the winter. It was put
up at one franc. The artist at once coneeiv-
ed plan for taking revenge on the land
lord. He went over, examined the picture
with great attention, and then called out,
with loud voice, 'One hundred francsi'-
The landlord was astonished at the bid; but
conceiving that a picture for which so emf
nent an artist could offer that sum was worth
more than double, boldly offered goo francs.
Five hundred!' said the painter, and the
CONTEST DeIh0on tH0 TWO UlUUeTS became SO
animated, that the prize was at length knock
ed down to the landlord at 1900 francs
"The purchaser then addressing the pain
ter, said: In seeing an artist of your merit
bid so eagerly for the picture, suppose
that it must be valuable. Now tell me, sir,
at what do you estimate its value?' "a
bout three francs and half. replied the
painter; but I would not give that for it. ;
You are surely jesting.' said the landlord,
for you bid as high as 2,1O0 francs for ii. >
That is true replied the artist, and viii
tell you why did so. You are in posses
sion of an income of 10000 francs a year,
and have seized on the furniture of poor
woman for debt of 200 francs. wished
to give you lesson, and you fell into my
trap. Instead of the poor woman being
your DEBTOR, she is now your creditor, and /
fatter myself you will not compel her to
seize on your furniture for her debt The
artist then politely saluted the astonished
landlord, and having announced her good
fortune to the Door woman, walked AWAY"