The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-05-05
TnE MYSTERIOUS SKETCH.
Translated from the French.l

is n small inn, narrow and loty, WIN
dentaled gables, dusty windows ana the
roof surmounted by statue of the VIZ
oin in plaster. 1t was there that pass
ed the saddest days of my life. went
to Nuremberg for the purpose OF study
ing the old German masters; but owing
to a scarcity of hard cash was compelled
to take portraits-and what portraits
Fat women with their cats on their knees,
aldermen in their wigs, burgomasters in
their three cornered hats, all of them
paudily colOred with ochre and vermll-.
Lon.
From portraits descended to sketches.
from sketches TO silhOuettes.
Nothing is more annoying than to have
the inkeeper constantly at ones elbow,
with pnched-up lips, shrill voice and
impudent manner, who says to you every
dav: Come, now, do You intend to pay
me soon, Monsieur Do you know how
much your bill amounts to No, that
piyes Won 10 uneasiness. Monsieur eats,
drinks and sleeps TRANQUILITY. MOnsieur's
bill amounts to two hundred fOrins and
ten kruitzer--but it's no use speaking OF
it."
Those who are rated i'll this manner
cannot create an idea love of art, imagi-
nation, sacred enthusiasm for the beautl-
full, is withered by the breath of such q
knave Yon become awkward, timid;
all your energy is lost, as we'll as the
sense of your own personal dignity, and
YOU respectfully bow to BurgOmaster
Schneegaus
One night, without a sou as usual, and
threatened with a prison by this worth
less Master Rap, resolved to make him
bankrupt by cutting my throat. Full
of this agreeable thought, seated on my
pallet facing the window, | yielded my
self up to a thousand philosophical re-
Elections more or less cheerful.
What is MANI" said to myself; IAN
omnivorous ANIMAL his jaws provided
with CANNES, incisors, and mOlars, prove
it sufficiently. The CANNES are made to
tear food, the incisors to cut fruit, and
the mOlars to masticate, crush and titur
ate animal and vegetable substances
agreeable to taste and smell But when
there is nothing to masticate, this being
is a veritable nonentity i'll nature, a SUI
perfetation, a fifth wheel to carriage"
Such were my reflections. Idared not
open my razor, for fear that the invinci-
bic strength of my logic would inspire
me with courage enough to finish myself
at once When had thoroughly argued
the matter in this manner, blew out my
candle, dismissing the subject till the
next day.
This abominable Rap had completely
stupefed me. With respect to art l
could not ascend above silhouettes, and
nv sole desire was to obtain money that
might rid myself of his odious presence.
But on this night a strange revolution
took place in my mind. l woke abont
one o'clock in the morning; lighted
my lamp, and Slipping on my thread bare
coat, traced OH paper rapid sketch i'll
the genre Hollands, something strange,
bizarre, and which was totally unlike
anything had ever executed before.
Imagine to yourself a sombre covered
yard, surrounded by high, dilapidated
walls These walls are furnished with
hooks, seven or eight feet from the
ground. At the first glance it is evident
that it is a slaughter-hOuse.
To the left stands a trellis, across
which is quartered bullock, suspended
from the roof by enormous pulleys-
Large pools of blood trickle along the
flag stones, running into a trench full of
shapeless remains. e - 81 az"
The light comes from above, between
some chimneys, which are so close to-
gether that only piece of sky not larger
than a mans hand can be seen. At the
end of the yard is a loft, under the loft is
a shed, under the shed some ladders,
few bundles of straw, some rope, a bird
cage, and an old rabbit-hutch, evidently
too dilapidated for use. S'iA
How was it that these fantastical de-
tails came into my mind? do not
know had no recollection of having
seen anything of the kind, and yet every
mark of the pencil seemed to bring out
u sketch taken from nature. Nothing
was wanting!
But the right corner OF the sketch re-
manned white-I did not know what to
put there. Something seemed to move
there. suddenly / saw foot, an inverted
foot, detached from theground. Inspite
of this improbable position, l followed
the inspiration without having any idea
what was doing. This foot joined
leg; on the. leg, extended with effort,
soon appeared the skirt -of n dress In
short, an old woman, emaciated, bag
gard, with dishevelled hair, appeared
thrown backwards on the edge of a we'll,
struggling against hand tightly grasp
ing her throat. .
1t was murder scene that l drew
Then the pencil fell from my hand
This woman, in the 7boldest attitude,
her back on level with the edge of the
well, her face contracted with terror, her
two hands clutching the murderer'sarms,
made me afraid, l dared not look at
her. But the mantle parsonage to
whom the arm belonged did not see
him / felt it impossible to finish the
sketch EF FSg.E.k
81 am fatigued," / mnttered to myself,
my forehead bathed in perspiration; Il
have only yet TO put in the figure of
man. wififnish it tomorrow. 1t will
be easy to do K Et.4si " u
threvzmyself on the bed, again,
frightened at my vision Five minutes
afterwards slept profoundly s.oi,se.sl
The next morning ROSE, early had
lust dressed myself md was about to re-
sumo my interrupted York, when Iheard |
two gentle Knocks e$fhedoor. zd d.@eI