The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1877-06-13

sky? Know that my reputation has
been long established. / have a Red
Horse at Malines, a Green Bear al
Nom.r, and Charlemagne at AiS-la-
Chapelle, before which every passen-
ger stops fixed in admiration"
"Nonsensem exclaimed the critic,
as he snatched the palette from the
painters hand. "You deserve to
have your portreit painted to serve
for the sign of Flemish Ass" In
his indignation he mounted the lad
der with the activity of a boy, and
began with the palm of his hand to
eftace the chef doeuure of Gerard
Douw's great third cousin.
"Slop! You old charlatan'' shout
ed the latter, ''you are running my
sign! Why, it's worth thirty-flve
francs. And then my reputation
cost! gone ~forever'
He shook the ladder violently to
make his prosecutor descend. But
the latter undisturbed either by that
or by the presence of a crowd of vii
layers, attracted by the dispute, con
tinued mercilessly to bot cut the
landscape. Then, using merely the
point of his finger and the handle OF
a brush, he %sketched, in mastery
outline, three Flemish Doors. with
beer glasses in their hands, drinking
to the rising sun; which appeared
above the horizon, dispensing the
gloom of a grayish morning sky
One of the faces presented a strong
and laughable c~aricature of the sup.
planted sign-painter. The specta.
tors at first were greatly disposed TIC
take part with their countryman
against the intrusive stranger. What
right had he to interfere? There
was no end to the impertinence o
these foreigners.
AS, however, they watched and
grumbled, the grnmbling gradually
ceased, and was turned into a muir
mur of appreciation when the design
became apparent. The owner of TIL
inn was the first to cry, Bravo!
and even Gerard Douw's cousin min,
times removed felt his fury calmin;
down into admiration.
ooh" he exclaimed, "you belon;
to the craft, honest man, and there
no use in denying it. Yes, yes" b
!, continued, laughing, as he turne
) toward his n~eighbors, "this is
French sign-painter, who wishes
have q jest with me. Well. l mus
e frankly say he knows what be
] about"
The old mar was about to descen
] from the ladder, when a gentleman
riding a beautiful English hors'
made his way through the crowd.
n : "That painting is minep be e:
f claimed in French, but with a 70
eign accent. 81 will give a hundre
guineas for it!'
"Another madmanr' exclaime
the native genius. "Hang me, b'
e all these foreigners are mad"
Il "What do you mean, Monsieur
said the i%nn-keeper, uncommonly i
q terested.
" "What I say-I will give one HUI
y bred guineas for that painting" a
e sw2red the young Englisllman, &C
70 ting off his horse.
e. "That picture is not to be sold
k said the sign painter, with an air
l. as much pride as if it had been h
own work.
e, mo-" quoth mine host, "for it
j" already sold, and even partly pa
in for in advance. However, if Mo
sieur wishes p come to an arrans
ment about It, it is with me he mt
30 treat"
1g "Not at all, not at all reio.ned
MS Flemish painter Of signs, "it belon
to me. My fellow artist here ga
Id me a little help out of friendship;
the picture is my lawful proper
in and l am at liberty to sell it TO a
Ike one / please"
"What roguery!" exclaimed
inn keeper, "my Rising Sun is
if property, fastened on the wall of
house. How can it belong to
lie body else? Isn't it painted on
a board? No one but myself has
OF smallest right to it,"
ase "I'll summon you before the m
on, istrate!" cried he who had not p
lch ted the sign,
cpl prosecute you for breach
covenant retorted the inn-kee
sE