Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-09-21
David wnkIs,. Enr.x career.

as q student III the school OF the |
Royal Academy. Not very long
afterward came a tall, pale, awk- |
ward young Scotchman, with fine
eye, short nose and coarse mouth ;
very quiet unless aroused by argu-
ment, when he became eager and
voluble. His name was David |
Wilkie, and between him and Hay
don a sort of friendship was struck
up which lasted through life, al
though David was not oyer-fond of
giving proof of it when Benjamin
fell into difficulties. David had
the national organ of "getting
along" finely developed. To Hay
don he once gave this canny coun-
sci: If We joost want to get along
in the warld, it's not condoocive to
your interests to be too recht. It's
better joost to believe they're recht
and you're wrang." Meanwhile
Dayid's shyness, awkward figure,
and shabby attire made him the
butt of the students. In lack of a
model, Hayden once found him in
his garret, stark naked, drawing
from his own figure by the help of
a mirror. =" It's joost capital prac-
tice," said the imperturable David.
His drawings soon became admira-
Bile, and in character and grouping.
reminded one of Teniers. He had
brought letter of introduction to
Lord Mansfield, himself a Scotch
man, who commissioned him to
paint a picture from one of his
drawings. This was the famous
Village Politicians" No price
was named, and one day his
lordship, happening into the studio,
asked, "How much am | to pay
you for this picture, Mr.. Wilkie ?"
81 hope" said the trembling artist,
that your lordship will not think
fifteen guineas too much" His
lordship thought this too much,
and advised the painter to consult
his friends. When the exhibition
approached, the hanging committee
gave the best place to the Village
Politicians" AT the private view
the great and glorious Prince Re
gent honored it with his august
approval, and the News of the next
day said young man by the name
of Wilkie, a Scotchman, has a very
extraordinary work" At the pub
lie exhibition the crowd was SO
great around the picture that there
was no getting near it. Lord Mans
field became anxious to make sure
of his prize. 81 believe, Mr..
Wilkie," he said, Z" lowe you fifteen
guineas shall l give you a check?"
David reminded his patron that he
had thought this too much, and
had advised him to consult his
friends, who thought it too little.
"0h, but l considered it a bar
GAIN" said his lordship. "Did
you, upon your honor, my lord?'
81 did, upon my honor" "Then
the picture is your lordship's for
fifteen guineas." "Now, then,"
said his lordship, al hope you will
accept a check for thirty guineas. "
Honest David had wisely not made
) himself to recht, and thereby
gained on the spot fifteen guineas,
the parents in due time Of many
more.
Wilkie became famous at once.
Lord Mulgrave and the excellent
$ Sir George Beaumont were noted
| connoisseurs in those days. Th(
/, former commissioned Wilkie tC
> paint "The' Rent Day." the latter.
"The Blind Fiddler" and botf
= sounded the praise of the young
4 ScOtchman. elf a young man,
S says Hayden, wanted to be puffed
i at dinners until Academiciaus grew
: black in the face, Lord MulgravC
4 and Sir George were the men to dc
s it." Sir George, with perhaps par
= donable exaggeration, described
n Wilkie as ga young man who cam,
e to London, saw q picture b,
d Teniers, then rushed home ant
e painted the Village Politicians a
e once-at once my dear Lady Mul
s. grave, at once"
Is Poor David suddenly became tn
Is rage. No wonder that for q tim
rs he lost his head. He bloomed ou
r much as Dickens did, long after
1t under like circumstances-into
if aashy imitation of a dandy. Blu
i, his heart was, after all, in the righ
v place he wished his family to shar
7e his glory. One day he invited HI
es friend to come and see him. "Upo
5 the table," says Hayden, "sprea
i out in glittering triumph, were tw
lg new bonnets, two new shawls, an
n heaven knows what, to astonis
oe the natives of his Scotchish home
gs and enable his venerable father, lib
ne the Vicar of Wakefield, to preac
er sermon on the vanity Of womel
n while his wife and daughter wei
es shining in the splendor Of fashio
IN from the dress-makers Of the We
n, End of London" "
nA