The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-24
"A Scene of Retribution.

\ picture, representing the sale Of !:
quantity Of old furniture seized" for rent
was exhibited Some years back in the win
dow Of Il dealer in the Place de 'la Mad
clcinc, Paris, and attracted considerable at
tcntion. In the foreground was placed 81
poor woman holding III her arms a child
and watching with a sorrowful eye the pro
gress of the sale. The sweet face of tho
child stood outsin strong contrast to the
distressed countcnancc ST the poor mother
Further back were the personagts, conncc
ted with the sale, represented with great
vigor. The following is stated he Lyons
journal TO be the historyof the scene dc.
pictcI:
y few years since the painter of the pic.
turc in question, an eminent artist at LYONS
while passing through the l;uc dcs Ter
reaux, approached Il number of persons who
were gathered together witnessing the sale
Of the furniture Of a poor woman. \ wo-
man was seated on the pavement, with Il
child in her arms. The painter spoke to
her, and WAS told that the furniture which
was being sold belonged to her; and that
her husband had lately died, leaving her
with the child she had in her arms that
she had struggled hard to maintain herself
by working day and night, submitting to
every privation !; but that her landlord had
at length seized her furniture for some
months rent which was due him.
The artist was mucl, affected by this sim
pie rccta and inquired who was her land
lord. "Therc he is" replied the poor wo-
man, pointing TO man who was watch
ING the progress Of the sale; and he was
recognized by the painter as II person who
was suspected of having made a. consd-
cradle fortune by usury; so that to make
any appeal to hisaeeiugs on behalf OF the
poor widow would be useless. The artist
was considering within himself what other
plan he could adopt to benefit her, when
the crier announced picture for sale. 1t
was miserable daub, which in the manner
the poor woman had used to hide the hole
in the wall through which the pipe of the
stove passed during the winter. It. was
put up at one franc. The nrtistSsat once
conceived plan for taking revenge on the
landlord. lie went over, examining the
picture with great attention, and then called
out, with loud, voice, "One hundred
francs !"
The landlord was astonisllcd at the bid J.,
but conceiving that picture for whicl, SO
eminent an artist could offer that sum was
worth more than double, boldly offered
2OOf
"Fivc hundred ~ said the painter, and
the contest between the two bidders became
SO animated that the prize was at length
knocked down to the landlord at 22OOf
The purchaser, then addressing the pain
ter, said {: ain seeing nn artist Of your n,cr.
it bid SO eagerly for the picture, suppos,
ed that it must be valuable. Now, tell
me, sir, at what do you estimate its val
ue!' -.
"About three francs and l,alf," said the
painter "butI would not give that for it.
"I4lat is true," replied file artist, sand ]
will tell you why 1 did SO. Yo,, are 3 in
possession of ar income of25, ,O0of. a year
have seized on tile furniture of a poor .,Wo
man for debt of200f. I.wish tosgjyt
Iyou lesson, and you fell into my trap
Elnstead Of the old poorWoman being YOU
debtor, shssis nowt your creditor, and
aatter myself yon viii not compel ller te
seizeon your furniture for her debt -
The artist then politely saluted the aston
sisled landlord, and having announced 4 lei
good fortune 20 tic poor woman, walked
fNay. e, -, :ys,s..
Ia SPoLrrIcAL PREAosIAdsE. Some anon
ynisus wag recently sent Henry ssYarl
Beec es,the foa6Ring 9llegory, cie ediIinE Eit,
aatIorsh hp teo NJ I'D fs fs,alier =, s IS:
rs fS,,a.d.s,sSo1rs,T ,,tla. ,..s