Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-22
A Fine Art Experience.
LFFom hte BOstOa C0mnlerctol BuVet

From the Boston Commercial B,lletinl
Into one of the large jewelry and fancy
goods stores OF Boston walked, the other day
one OF those customers that the holiday sea-
son sometimes brings to town. He was a
hard handed loose joInted, broad sh ouldered
Individual, carefully dressed in new suit of
o8ggy ready made clothes, a home laun-
dried shirt, and hat which, although per
IectIy new, was three seasons behind the
present fashion.
Sauntering up to one of the statesmen. with
very OBVIOUS attempt at being at home
among the glittering splendor Of the sales
room and general air OF "Not to be as
Ionlsned or being done by you Boston fel-
lers." he inquired;
Got any DruHZes?"
The clerk answered In the Affirmative, and
leo the way 70 bewildering stock of bronze
statuettes, clocks, etc. The visitor stared
At them Tor moment as an interior African
might have done at the nrst white man he
nad even seen, and then, setting his hat q
little more firmly on his head, asked:
-, n htah OF them figgers most be the Venus
The trained salesman, with placid counten-
ance, quietly replied:
II do not remember any by that title; are
You sure that was the name?''
The patron of the fine arts drew q large
yellow silk handkerchief from his hat. and.
hopping his face uneasily, said:
at mout ha' been ace high, but 1 think 1t
was high low; Marian sed that If 1 thou't OF
seven up ! shouldn't forget the name. The
TACT Is" said the puzzled purchaser, with
sudden burst OF confidence, "the fact is, cap,
South Higginsboro', and Marian loves she'd
IKE brunze in the keepin' room, suthin'
Ike what she seed once in cousin Sam Stiff
ner's parlor on Beacon street. Cousin Sam
ne writ the names on card, n praps I've
got 1t now" and, diving into his breast
pocket as II he was TO unsheath a two-hand-
ed sword he lugged out a long pocket-book
from the depths of which he plucked card
and handed 1T TO the salesman.
"Ah" said the latter, "the Venus OF Milo
by Barbidienne."
The customer surveyed it earnestly for
moment, and then said:
=" You haint got perfect one, hev ye cap?
rms ere one has lost both arms and got
dents all over her back"
The patient salesman explained that the
statuette was copy OF the original that was
found in that condition.
"Shoh!" commented the other; and then
hesitatingly, "don't any of them have any
her"
Again the shopman, despite his twitching
muscles, explained to his attentive listener
inquired
"Wall, now whatIl you tax fur her less as
she stands?" rapping his bony knuckles on
the bronze as If 1T were buzz saw.
lone hundred and fifty dollars for that
size" said the clerk.
"Wha-a-t!" almost shouted the would be
patron OF fine arts: ''a hundred and fifty dol
lars for a brunze gal 'thout any arms, and
skearce rag ON her back! Venus of My Low!
Venus of Your High, / should say. A hun
dred N fifty dollarsi Why, that's half the
mortgage on brother Jim's farm. Guess
Marian must thought my name was Will
nam Il. Astor, Instead of John Higgins"
and, liking his hat a little firmer he made a
bSSty. exit from the store and struck a
straight line for the Easton railroad smtion