The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-06-12
From the Courier des ktsts Unis. b
PAINTING BY CONFUSION.

An artist Of talent who has been making
studies in Algeria, has recently arrived il
Psris,> bringing from his artistic expedi.
ton real treasures Of research and study;
landscapes, monuments, interiors, types oi
all races, costumes, animals and stutfs. HI
had observed and collected everything,
studied everything, with intelligence and
and with his pencil, and has the materials
for making amultitude of fine and curiou,
pictures. He has brought also many things
as mere curiosities, and among these, is a
set of very exact copies made by him Of
some original paintings which decorate one
Of the pleasure houses of the ancient days,
The copies at first appear singular, and tn }
are so in fact; but the circumstances under
which the originals were executed are still
more remarkable. ss ts.., s,.Fs.,,ss.,sss..fsf
1t was in the first year of the present CEN
tury. The Dey of Algiers took fancy to
COLLECT in the Court Of the Kasauba, all the
European captives that he had 1t that time
in his power. He ranged them in a line and
passed them slowly in review before him
'Do you know how to paint?' he asked
abruptly of the first captive. No. replied
the prisoner, Il don't know how to paint
The Dey made sign, and a slave armed
with long yatagaD, made the head of the
captive fly. ssl .tf p %s1s& IL. H
'Do you know how to paint9 asked tie
Dey of the second prisoner. The latter,
frightened at the spectacle he had Just seen,
covered with blood, and not understanding
very well the question, opened his eyes wide
without making any answer. At signal
his head few off like that of the first.
At the question, 'Do you know how to
paint?' the third, frightened out of his wits,
answered, Eyes, believe l do, think
that'-sAh, you are not sure,' said the Dey,
and third head rolled in the dust. s.-s
'Do you know how to paint? asked the
Dey, smiling, of the fourth prisoner. This
fourth captive was bold and fearless Pari-
sian, formerly Paris street-boy, who had
very often stopped before the doors of wine
merchants or restorateurs to see sign pain
ters illustrating the outside with bottles and
full glasses, legs Of bacon and venison pies.
sDo know how to paint cried he. Ger
tainly l do; am the best pupil of the IL
lustrious David, painter to the Emperor
What do you wish for, most mild and clem-
ent Dey, speak and be obeycd.' sYou shall
know Immediately what WANT said the
Dey, and went on with the review. s .s
The example of the Partisan had taught
the others what was to be done. All replied
that they knew how to paint. The Dey,
enchanted with the success of his measures,
put all the painters-there were aboutthirty
under the orders of the Parisian; he then
led his battalion of impromptu artists to one
of his pleasure. palaces, and directed them
to ornament the walls with paintings like
those which decorate the palaces Of Euro
pean sovereigns.
& wish you to paint Mecca, the tomb Of
the Prophet, my principal naval victories,
and then anything you please, provided the
paintings be worthy of me; if they are not,
l will cut off all your heads |,.......,'
Light of lights, you shall be satisfied, ,
replied the Partisan.
Colors and brushes were sent for, and our
artists went to work. The Partisan was not
destitute of imagination. The Mussulman
religion forbiding the representation Of the
human form, the task was very much SIM
pll6ed. He painted the sea and naval bat
ties, where ships were to be seen but not a
sailor. Bullets and bombs were crossing
each other in the air, which was darkened
by smoke and Redeemed by fire, but not an
artillery man was seen at the pieces.
| Calling to his aid the recollections of his
childhood, he made skies of one bright blue,
in which he placed Mr.. Sun, Madame Moon,
and the Missus Stars. Then he painted the
great phenomena Of nature-storms, tor
rents, volcanoes in eruption, vomiting fame
and smoke. The Partisan made use of the
most lively and crude colors, the effect pro.
duoa1 NOT yorv hux
striking. The Dey was enchanted. ...~
Happily, strangers who were connisseurs
in painting, never penetrating into this
pleasure palace, the voluptuous retreat
where the favorites of the Dey passed the
summer season, no criticism was made, and
the Partisan passed in the eyes Of the Dey
for one of the greatest painters in France.
Not only he and his assistants kept their
heads upon their shoulders, but to reward
them the Dey bestowed upon them their
liberty.
1t is these paintings which have been
copied by real artist. Strange as they are,
there are some of them which show singu-
lar intelligence on the part of the Partisan.
These pictures are, moreover, very inter-
esting specimens of what can be done, by
the most absolute inexperence, and the most
complete Ignorance of art, having to con-
tend with necessity aad strengthened with
the sentiment of Of the preservation of life.
A "REMINISCENCES OF BRIGHAM YOUNG.
s$lS.50.-On the first day of April mex,
for value received, I promise to pay Milton
Sheldon or bearer Eighteen dollars and Fifty
cents, with Interest. Ten dollars of it to
be paid in good Kitchen Chairs at Fifty cent,
piece, well done off, painted and bottomed
according to the usual mode of doing off such
chairs sBRIcHAN YouNG.'
'Mendon, March 10th, 1S3O.'
gentleman, the administrator Of the es-
tate Of Milton Sheldon, mentioned in the
above note, has kindly presented us the
original Of which it is a copy, with the veri-
table signature, in a decent, legible round
hand of Brigham Young. the apostle Of Nor
mondom, attached. We value the reminis.
cence highly, partly for the autograph of
n L. r :. a l.