American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-02
The Pen-Maker and the Painter.

l.
elliott, the inventor of steel pens,
amassed a great fortune by them. When
he had acquired wealth, DESTROYS of
possessing those objects of art which
denote the possession of refinement as
well as money, he went up to London
to ask his banker what rich man
should do to furnish a grand house,
which he had just built, best in accord
ance with good taste. Sitting with his
legs under his bankers mahogany, he
said, 'Now, what do you advise me to
do?''
"Pictures, statuary and other objects
of virtn, together with library" sug-
gested his host.
''But don't know any thing about
these matters; wish you would tell me
how am to go about it. Now, for pic
lures, for example, what's up in the
market?''
"Ah! to what clever artists can rec
ommend you! Well, there are Null
ready, Elite and Leslie, for figure-pieces,
and some of the Royal Academicians
besides, well enough in that depart
ment; but, if you prefer landscape, 1
should advise you to try and secure
some of Turner's works. 1 think him
superior to Claude himself even."
"Well, we'll, 1 can try them both.
Will you please to give me their adj
dressp"
+" 1 can give you the address of Tur-
ner, but Claude Lorraine's address lies
beyond the grave.''
cob! 1 shan't try him; but give me
t'other fellows whereabouts, and I'll
90 to him to-morrow-him and any
other picture-maker you can counsel
me to employ
The pen-maker had a large deposit
with his banker, who smiled graciously
at his rough customers want of re-
finement, and wrote down Turner
address and the usual number of Royal
Academicians. The next morning Gil
lott went off in search of England's
landscape-painter. He found the house,
on the upper story of which the artist
had his studio. A female servant was
sweeping down the stairs when the
square-built, podgy little man present
ed himself, and asked if the painter
man was at home.
"Yes," said Peggy, but he don't
want to see nobody, and I'm not to
allow any one to go up-them's his very
words"
"Stand out Of the way, young wom-
an" said elliott. "Stand out of the
way!" and, pushing her aside, stumped
defiantly up stairs.
Finding the painting-room door at
the top, he knocked with vigor, but got
no reply; he then pushed it open, and
walked into the sanctum. There sat
the great painter, wholly absorbed up
on a small sketch in water-color, ig-
noring the presence of his visitor and
his blunt elbow do you do, sir?" Wait
ing a moment to see if the artist would
notice him, and meeting with no recog-
milton, he walked about the studio, turn
ing the pictures (Which had their faces
to the walD around, and putting them
in shocking bad lights, enough to drive
a painter frantic. After examining them
for some time, he once more tried to
attract the artists attention.
"l say, Turner-that believes your
name-what's the figure for this pic
ture?" Cunning it as if it were a dried
Goldfish toward him).
The painter raised his head an in
| ,fo
carelessly, "Four thousand guineas."
Sand this other to the right" pur-
sued elliott, s'what's the price of
thatP''
"Three thousand pounds" was the
answer.
| "And this one on the left?''
"Fifteen hundred guines.'
"I'll take the three" said elliott
Then Turner rose and laid down his
pencils.
"Who the devil are YOU" he said,
"who takes the liberty to intrude into
my studio against my orders? You
must be a queer sort of beggar, 1
fancy"
"You're another queer beggar, - was
the reply SCI am elliott, the pen-maker.
My banker tells me that you are clever
in your business, and recommends you,
and have come here to buy some of
your pictures.'
"By George! you are dron fellow,
1 must say"
"You're another, must say
"But," pursued Turner, rough-and-
ready though you are, rather like you.
Do you really want to purchase the can
vases you selected"
IS Yes; in course do, or would not
have climbed your blessed stairs this
morning.
"Well, Mr.. elliott, I must be frank
with you; when 1 noticed you in my
studio without permission, 1 thought it
a piece of impertinence, and, when you
asked the prices, thought you did SO
as many vulgar people do, for mere
curiosity, having no intention of buy
ing, wishing only to know what valua-
ton put upon my works, and gave
you price which suited my humor.
Two of the pictures are already dis
posed of; the other, the first one you
spoke of, is at your acceptance for
thousand pounds"
81 will take it." said the princely