The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-07-16

A picture representing the sale Of quantity
OK old furniture seized for rent was exhibited
some years back in the window Of a dealer in
the Place de la Madeline, Paris, and attracted
considerable attention. Inthe foreground was
placed poor woman, holding in her arms a
child, and watching with sorrowing eve the
progress Of the sale. The sweet face OF the
child stood out in strong contrast to the dis
.tressed countenance Of the mother. Further
back were 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 ~
g" A few years since the painter Of the pic.
ture in question, an eminent artist at Lyons,
while passing through the Rue des Ferraux,
approached number Of persons who were
gathered together, witnessing the sale or the
furniture of poor woman. A woman wa,
seated on the pavement with child in her
arms. The painter spoke to her, and was told
that the furniture which was being sold beloug-
ed to her; that her husband had lately died.
leaving her with the child she had in her arms;
that she had struggled hard TO maintain her
self and her child by working day and night,
and 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 much affected by this simple recital.
and inquired who was her landlord.
There he is" replied the poor woman,
pointing to man who was watching the pro-
gress OF the sale; and he was recognised by the
painter as person wLo was suspected of hav-
ing amassed considerable fortune by usury,
80 that to make any appeal to his feelings 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. II was
miserable daub, which in the summer the
poor woman had used to hide the hole in the
wall, through which the pipe of the stove
passed during the winter. 1t was put up at
one franc. The artist at once conceived a
plan for taking revenge on the landlord. He
went over, examined the picture with gre
attention, and then called out with a loud
voice, 8. One hundred francsp' The landlord
was astonished at the bid, but conceiying that
picture for which so eminent an artist could
offer that sum was worth more than double.
boldly offered 200f.
:" Five hundredt' said the painter, and the
contest between the two bidders becam so an
imated that the prize was at length knocked
downto the landlord at 2,2O0f.
p
The purchaser then addressing the painter,
said, In seeing an artist Of your merit bid 50
eagerly for the picture, supposed that it must
be valuable. Now tell me, sir, at what do you
estimate its value?"
About three francs and a half,' replied
the painter; but would not give that for il. %
" You are surely jesting, p said the landlord,
"for you bld as high as 2, ,lOOf for it.o
That is true," replied the artist, I" and |
will tell you why Ibid so. You are in posses
sion Of an income of %, 5,OOOf. a year, and have
seized on the furniture Of poor wsman for
debt Of 2oof. wished to give you lesson,
and you fell into my trap. Instead of the poor
woman being your debtor, she is now youl
creditor, and hatter myself you will not COM
pei her to seize on your furniture for her debt. y
The artist then politely saluted the astonish-
ed landlord, and having announced her good
fortune to the poor woman, walked away.