The mountain Democrat., 1863-05-16
Pros An the Year Round
Horace Vernst anA GrOGjean.

says twenty, offer him fifteen, and he'll
take eighteen. You remember his ad-
dress ?
OUi, mon capitaine.'
First large house near the palace. Go
up to the first floor and ring the bell -
Now, fight about face, and mind you are
back to drill
This was the answer gave Grosjean, a
recruit, who inquired OF me where he
could have 1Rs Cirt0ce 9OneS' He asked
me to direct him to rather iptOp artist,
and said he was willing to pay literally.
So | mischievously thought Of Horace
Vernet that great French painter who was
one Of the first Of leaders among men
struck by death in this year sixty three,
and sent him . patron.
Horace Vernet had points of independ-
ence that led him to be considered by in
nOcent people, who knew nothing Of his
ways, rather daft. One day, for example,
one Of my men came to barracks with
about half dozen glasses Of wine too
many in him. The most experienced un-
military eye could not have detected it,
for the old fellow is twelve years service
man. He stood upright as a lamp post,
and at parade went through every move
ment commanded, with the incest precis-
sion. But it waS that very uprightness
and precision which revealed to n,e that
Monsieur Giroux was not in his normal
state. Besides which, he had u Quid in
his mouth, and we never allow that in the
ranks
After observing him right about face
| (as il be were q piece Of clock wOrk) sew
erai times, felt convinced that he was
drunk, and, going up to him, said: 'Gi.
roux, you are drunk YES. mon capi
taine. You are chewingF 'N-no. mon
capitaine.' Down his throat went the
quid. where have you been drinking ?
'At the infantry canteen.' Who gave
you the money! A civilian What
for = For looking at the fountains. -
oh: how much did he give your Two
francA.' How long did you look at the
fountainsf' Half an bourl' And what
did the civilian do!' In an incoherent
jumble l understood, walked up and down
looking at me-tOld me to move about and
admire-then, all Of a sudden, rushed up
to De and said, as il he were command
ing, by your right; don't move! there,
so" 'Wellt' Then be took out his peck.
ct book and took down my reginental
number, | suppose; so, seeing that. | gave
it him, l24S-l hadn't done any ything-s So
he may report me If he likes-he offered
me the money and took it-who cares
for him!' We'll, we'll, that'll do-go to
bed
guessed that Vernet had been treating
him, so said nothing about it. One day
Vernet stopped a sapper just as he was
putting q petit verre 10 his lips. and KEEP,
him in that position for Il quarter OF an
hour. Fancy the old trooper, dry aud
thirsty, With the aromatic drop just under
his nose. Another day, at a review, he
shouted to dragOon that he'd give him a
hundred francs If he would stop in Ger.
tain position for five minutes only! The
man was just going head over heels off
his horse, and got regular cropper. Yer
net painted from life; when possible, from
lifs in activity outside his studio. He
roamed about Versailles Park, the cavalry
and infantry barracks, and there picked
| up attitudes and groups Of soldiery.-
Hence the vivacity Of all his military ta-
bleaux.
Well, we were garrisoEed at Versailles,
and recruit GroSjenn had asked ME, his
captain, to direct him to ii, top artist
Gro*jean, although bu. . recruit, is a fine
sOIdler-like looking fellow. He has splen.
did beak nose, high forehead, heavy nous.
tache, and broad shoulders. As be asked
me the question, it struck me that he was
q fine subject for Vernet, so sent him,
knowing that at all events Ee would offer
his twenty SOUS for q portrait in q way
that would amuse the genial Horace
GroSjean wanted his portrait for his moth
er. All recruits in our army, when they
are we'll shaken into their uniforms, have
. picture done Of themselves, and send
it to their parents. There are in all gar
rison towns certain fellows, calling them
/ selves artists, who will keep 9 stock OF
Autographed pictures of all the troops Of
France-that is, Of all the hundred odd
regiments. These lithographs are plain,
and drawn in outline only. When man
wants his portrait to send home, he in
| Quires for an artist of his comrades, or
serjeant, or Of an officer. The comrades
proclaim as the tiptop artist that one who
uses the most brilliant cOlOrS, and lavisbes
on his portraits the most liberal quantity
| of golden ornaments. If an artist wishes
! to establish . reputation ameHg the SOL
diery, the best thing be can do is to orna-
ment each Of bis patrons as he would q
| field marshal They rarely patronize the
photographer, perhaps because his works
are too truthful. The soldier having list.
ened to the merits Of different artists, Sc
Iects the one whom he will patronize, and
in full dress pays him q visit. The pain.
ter receives him with every sign of high
consideration, draws from folio q litho-
graph, which be hides carefully from the
eye Of his patron-a lancer, If the man be
. lancer; or q cuirasSieT, il q Inan be a
cuirassier. He poses his subject in O
graceful position, answering to that Of the
figure in the lithogruph, and proceeds to
i'll in the cOlors. The consequence is, that
if fifteen dragons have their portraits
painted, the hfteen will all be 10 one atti.
tude. II, however, there be twenty blonds,
twenty will resemble one another as peas
do peas, and oil the dark ones will appear
to the inexperienced eye band Of broth
ers. Bot as the shepherd learns the ply
siOgnOmy Of sheep, SOFT is that amongst
themselves the men will select the portrait
Of any man in particular, although the
pictures are printed from one stone. FOT
in each picture there is some distinctive
mark. One maR will insist upon having
= cigar in his mouth; the artist is obliged
to comply with his wishes--anOther wants
his sword out of his sheath, in his right
hand. This is rather an awkward job, for
| the hsrO Of the iithOgraphy has already q
sword by his side; however, to Oblige a
customer, i must be managed. A knife
l = a. ..,l