The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-08-06

great vigor under the hands of
! Smike, who was fitting upon him q
pair of new boots that bore most
suspicious resemblance to those
| which the least of the little boys
had worn on the journey down, as
the little boy himself seemed to
think. for he was regarding the
appropriation with a look OF most
| rueful amazement. Besides these
were long row of boys waiting,
with countenances of no pleasant
anticipation, to be treacled; and
another file, who had just escaped
from the infliction, making q vari-
ETY. of wry mouths indicative of
| any thing but satisfaction. This
description from ''Nicholas Nickle-
by is the only one which will bring
this gem Of Webstec's before the
reader; and the one thing those
looking at it had to regret was that
it had not been painted four times
its size, for two pages Of the auc-
tioneer's catalogue would have
covered it, and this would. it was
thought beforehand, prevent its
! bringing any very large sum. The
first bid, however, was one OF 4OO
guineas, and this solved the doubt.
and the price ran up in few min
utes to 500 guineas, at which it was
knocked down. "The Simeon,
hy David Roberts, representing an
Egyptian sunset, with the Sphinx
in the foreground, sold for 13l
guine eas; the portrait of Mr.. Dick
ems in Used Up" by the late Au-
gustus Egg. for ITO guineas; while
the Maclise of ''Girl at ater
fall" was bought by Mr.. Forster
for 61O guineas. 1t was curious to
remark the eager personal interest
displayed when the more celebra-
ted lots were about to be sold.
There was deep drawn breath be-
fore the first bid, and sort of
gasp of satisfaction when the ham
mer fell after rapid bidding and q
good stiff price had been reached,
which seemed to come from all in
the room, and with the regularity
and precision of a military exercise
The picture of Picwick and Mrs.
Baraell in .grisoilie. by Leslie, r. A.
which is engraved as a frontis-
piece in the edition of "Pickwick"
Of 1854. represents Mrs. Bardell
when she had tainted in Mr. Pick
wick's arms and when. "before he
had time to deposit her on chair"
Master Bardeli entered the room,
ushering in Mr.. Tupman, Mr.. Win
kle, and Mr.. Snodgrass; this pic.
ture went for 131 guineas. The
comments, when. this was seen on
the movable easel, proved how
deeply rooted is the knowledge of
Picwick in the English mind. The
gathering at Messrs. Christie's was
not, in any sense, an artistic or
literary one. The nota bilities pre-
sent were SO completely in the
minority that one had to scan the
room to find them and what some
writer's would term English Philis-
tinism seemed as prominently rep-
resented as aught else. But when
the Pickwick picture was up, the
story it told was repeated and
dwelt on with keenest relish. Mr..
Pickwick's innocent promise that
the little boy should soon have
lively companion, who'd teach him
more tricks in a week than he
would ever learn in year; Mrs.
Bardelfs ooh. you dear, you good,
kind, playful dear!' Mr.. Pickwick's
start of amazement Mrs. Bar
delrs elusive flnging Of her arms
around Mr.. Pickwick's neck; Mr..
Pickwick's reply: IF any body
should come and Mrs Bardelrs
agitated and embarrassing reply,
"Oh, let them GENE; I'll never
leave you, dear, good, kind SOUL"
were passages we heard quoted in
substance by an old gentleman ex
actiy as if they referred to real
person. But the enthusiasm cul-
minated when the Dolly Warden
was put up, and found vent in
rounds of applause. The charm
ing "mist of coquettishness" en-
vironing this dainty figure, it's
beauty, its tripping, ,lig htsome step,
the innocent playfulness OF the fair
young face, took the room by sto m,
and when a voice cried out, "ive
hundred guineas," a first bid, the
applause broke out again. This
masterpiece was finally knocked
down for 900 guineas, and read
ers of the Daily News will not
need to be reminded that Mr.. Dick
ems paid Mr.. FIRTH just f2O for it
twenty>seven years ago The
companiol icture, Kate N:ckleby
at Madame Montalini's," brought
200 guincas, and then all eyes were
on the Stanfields, which were now
uncovered. A member Of Mr..
Stanfield's family has told the
world that these were painted tor
the Frozen Deep performances, as
if there were danger Of their be-
ing passed off as finished oil pic
lures, and as if dealers in art were
notoriously blind. This was scarce
ly necessary, as their story was
well known and has been repeated
far and wide. The "Eddystone |
Lighthouse brought 900 guineas,
and the other two sea pieces $50 |
and It's guineas respectively
w hen It was rememDereu LnaJ Mr.. |
Dickens left these works of art at
Tavistock-huuse as fixtures, and
that the tenant succeeding him res
quired as q favor that they might
be removed, as they ''were dis
agreeable to his wife," their prices
seem extraordinary. Another burst
of applause came from the room
when the full length portrait Of