The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-12-07
The Pen Maker and the Painter.

elliott, the inventor of steel pens,
amassed a great fortune by them.
When he had acquired wealth, desir-
Gus of possessing those objects of art
which denote the presence of refine
ment as we'll as money, he went up to
London to ask his banker what rich
man would do to furnish a grand
house, which he had just built, best
in accordance with good taste. Sitting
with his legs nnaer his bankers ma
hogany, he said, ssNow, what do you
advise me to do
Pictures, statuary, and other ar
ticles of virtu, together with a library, :"
suggested his host.
''But l don't know anything about
these matters I wish you would tell
me how am to 60 about it. Now, for
pictures, for example what's up in
the market!''
''Ah to what clever artists I can
recommend you! Well, there are
Mulready, Elite, and Leslie, for figure
pieces, and some of the Royal acade-
micians besides, we'll enough in that
department; but, if you prefer land
scape, should advise you to try and
secure some of Turner's works. l
think him superior to Claude himself
even.'
''Well, well, can try them both.
Will you please to give me their ad
dress
Il can give you the address Of Tur.
ner, but Claude Lorraine's address lies
beyond the grave
"Oh shan't try him but'give me
t'other fellows whereabouts, and I'll
60 to him to-morrow-him and any
other picture-maker you can counsel
me to employ"
The pen-maker had large deposit
with his banker who smiled gracious
ly at his rough customers want of re-
finement, and wrote down Turner
address and the usual number of Roya
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 SER
want was sweeping down the stairs
when the square-built, podgy little
man presented himself, and asked if
the ''painter-man' was at home.
eyes," said Peggy, ''but he don t
want to see nobody, and I'm not to al
low any one to go up-them's his very
words"
''Stand out of the way, young
woman, said elliot, ''Stand out of the
way y and, pushing her aside stump
ed 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 upon
small sketch in water color, ignoring
the presence of his visitor, and his
blunt, ''How do you do. sir" Wait
ing a moment to see if the artist would
notice him, and meeting with no rec.
ignition, he walked about the studio.
turning the pictures (which had their
faces tothe wall) around, and putting
them in shocking bad lights, enough
to drive a painter frantic. After he
had examined them for some time he
once more tried to attract the artist 8
attention.
II say Turner-that believes your
name-what the figure for this pic.
turet' Cunning it as if it were dried
Goldfish toward him).
The painter raised his head an in
slant from his board, and said, very
carelessly, "Four thousand gum
cas-"
And this other to the right. pur-
sued elliott, whats the price of
that p
Three Thousand pounds" was the
answer.
''And this one to the left -
Fifteen hundred guineas."
II will take the three said elliott.
Then Turner rose and laid down his
pencils.
"Who the devil are you.'' he said
who take the liberty to lntrude into
my studio against my ordersl You
must be queer sort of beggar,
fancy"
YOU'RE another queer beggar.- was
the reply. ~ am elliott, the pen max
er. Ny banker informs me that you
are clever in your business and recon-
mends you. and have come to buy
some of your pictures.
by George You're droll fellow,
l must say"
"You re another. / must say.
But, pursued Turner. trough and
ready though you are, l rather like
you. Do You really want to purchase
the canvasses you selected
Eyes. of course do, or would not
have climbed your blessed stairs this
morning."
..Well Mr.. elliott, / must be frank
with you; when | noticed you in my
studio without permission. / thought
it piece of impudence, and when you
asked me the prices thought you did
50 as many vulgar people do, for mere
curiosity. with no intention Of buying.
wishing only to know what valuation
/ put upon my " 1rks and gave you >
price which suited my humor. Two
Of these pictures are already disposed
Of: the other, the first one yo0 spoke