Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-06-01

triumphant; | must so consider him
for the moment at all events The fel
low was a fool; did not know any better;
Was placed in an unusual po-ition, and
did the best his ignorance allowed
Answer fool according to his folly
No one was looking on whose ill-opinun
could iujure me. Instead of leaving
(my only other resource) | would humor
Jones.
Of course it was easy for nc, in view
of the object Of my visit, to ask to see
the artists portfolio of sketches, aud it
as well as his productions on the walls
were examined amidst al. animated con-
versatiun. The m.n's n,ind was won
derfully full fer one SO young. lie
had read much and thought deeply |
could not consider him IA fool In fact,
| was continually contradicting myself
in all opinions concerning him. l had
never met before such a man as he
He did not seem cnnceited-apd tried
him severely then, giving NY senti-
ments on his work in a caustic style,
which | rarely indulg ge in. Often,
when my denunciatiuns were loudest q
still remembered his impudence y, he,
without attempting the faintest excuse,
would chime in with my remarks, and
acknow ledsed he was ashamed of the
subject criticized When by extrava-
gaut praise | tried to draw him into
vain expressions, | was always foiled by
his simplicity and knowledge of his pro-
fession He was just to himself, and
merely wanted justice from others as to
his artistic ability.
|, is usual with me to find among
painters the greatest ignorance on mat
ters not directly connected with their
profession Theirs is an absorbing pur-
sui, to achieve success in it is to be a
one-idead man Jones was an excep-
tion to this rule also | commented
upon it to him, and he observed that he
doubtless would have been n better
artist had his mind run more in one
channel but that he had felt that
higher than mere protest., nal matters
claimed every mans attention. A man
h.mself among others, the consideration
of various relations was of greater value
to himself than worldly success, and he
was by nature compelled to regard his
practice of art as secondary to his own
manhood | thou ght him somewhat
trauscendental in his views, but Was ex-
ceedingly interested in them, and not a
little astonished by certain of his obser-
vations lie propounded many puz-
zling questions to me, and was SO puz-
zled in every way that | now remember
little of our conversation but its effects
Well, my visit end d in i\V giving
him three commissions-a noontde eff
feet, moonlight effect, and a marine
view. AS | bid him good day he had
the impudence to say he would be most
happy to see me again soon; that he
enjoyed my society much. Before |
knew what | WAS doing | had expressed
my satisfaction at the amount of pleas
ure | had received, and ended by invit-
ing him to my house-a picture gallery,
etc
AS l descended the sixth flight of
stairs the thought of what | had done
burst upon me- What would my wife
say? | shuddered, and yet laug ghed
Jones impudence was magnificent. |
had been fairly enslaved by it. |
brought to mind Caesar and Napoleon,
and wondered if ilnpudence were not
genius.
Three days after, at half past eight
in the evening, HALVES, my footman,
threw open the door Of my drawing room
and announced Mr. Richard Jones !!
Was it possible? Had l really set no
time for the visit OF that induniiable
painter? Had | actually extended to
him cordial and general invitation to
call upon me, the same as | would to
Chancellor Allgreek or Professor Odd
man? My wife Was totally unprepared
for his appearance. had entirely for
gotten my friend of the sixth story by
the time l had reached home Cir
cumstances had shut ont all memory of
bis eccentricity ever since. My four
accomplished and fashionable daughters
would lie sho ked by his vulgar impu
dence; and present with us, too, was
the celebrated Oeander, whose last
vniume of poems were the worlds talk
How wouId his refined nature endure
sucn udiuus contact
In the hurry of the moment | ejacu-
lated to my companions, "A young artist
who will make his way yeti when the
figure of jones WAS presented, arrayed
in the usual threadbare coat, and fur
thermore adorned by pair of cheap
gloves.
Jones advanced smilingly and easily
up to me, and my intention Of request
ing him to sit in the back parlor for
a few moments until | could at
tend to him was at once abandoned.
With him came his influence. | sue
cumbed 1t was his first visit, ] was
convinced, into good society," and Gu
rious to see how great his genius was.
| introduced him to the assembled
party.
Any other man in his position, gifted
with the ordinary sentiments of human
ity, woul1, | know, have exhibited some
hesitancy as he saluted the brilliant, and
in part scornful. circle He surely
could not but feel that he had made
mistake, that he was not entirely wei
come Not trace of embarrassment
Was visible in his manner, and he seat
ed himself on chair near my eldest