Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-04-05

| little to their subsequent fame, at least gives
MS another instance Of how much of what is
called chance has often to do with the carry
| ing out of literary projects. II was the burn
ing of Drury Lane Theatre that led to the
production Of "The Rejected Addresses" the
success of which, says one Of the authors,
decided him to embark in that literary ca
reer, which the favor Of the novel-reading
world rendered both pleasant and profitable
to him" Most of us know how that famous
fairy tale "Alce in Wonderland came to be
written. The characters in "Oliver Twist" of
Fagn, Skies, and Nancy, were suggested by
some sketches of Cruikshank who long had
design to show the life of a London thief by
n series Of drawings. Dickins, while paying
| Cruikshank n visit, happened to turn over
some sketches in portfolio. When he came
! to that one which represents Fagin in the con-
! demned cell, lac studied if for half an hour,
and told his friend that he was tempted to
change the whole plot of his story rot to
carry Oliver through adventures in the coun-
try, but to take him up into the thieves den
in London, show what his life was, and bring
Oliver through it without sin or shame.
| Cruikshank consented to let Dickens write up
to as many Of the drawings as he thought
would suit his purpose. SO the story as it
now runs resulted in Il great measure from
! that chance inspection of the artists portfolio.
! The remarkable picture of the jew malefactor
in the condemned cell, biting his nails in the
torture of remorse, is associated with happy
accident. The artist had been laboring at the
subject for several days, and thought the
task hopeless; when sitting up in his bed one
morning with his hand on his chin and his
fingers in his mouth, the whole attitude ex-
pressive of despair. he saw his face in the
cheval glass. That's it :" lie exclaimed :;
that's the expression I want" And he soon
finished the picture
The sudden prosperity Of many famous
| painter has resulted from some fortunate ac-
cident. Anthony Vatican, when nameless,
struggling artist, timidly offered painting to
rich picture-dealer for six francs, and was
on the eve of being scornfully rejected, had
not stranger who happened to be in the
shop come forward, and seeing some talent
in the work, spoke encouragngly to the
| youth, and offered him one hundred and fif-
ty francs for the picture; nor was this all,
| Tor he became Watteau's patron and instruct
or. One day little shepherd-boy was seated
near the roadside, on the way from YES
| pignano to Florence drawing upon polished
stone, his only pencil another polished stone
which he held in his tiny fingers. A richly
dressed stranger, who had descended from
conveyance that was following him. Glanced
to pass, and looking over the boys shoulder,
saw that he had just sketched with wonder
full truth and correctness n sheep and its twin
lambs. Surprised and pleased he examined
| the face of the young artist. Certainly it was
not its beauty that attracted him. The child
| looked Up, but with such marvellous light in
his dark eyes, that the stranger exclaimed 4:
My child you must come with me l will
he your master and your father it is some
| good angel that has led me here" The stran-
| ger was Cimabue. the most celebrated painter
of that day and his pupil and protege be-
| came the fatuO1lg Toiptar eault,fpr aud arfbt
tect Giotto, the friend and admiration of
Dante and Petrarch.
How the fortunes of painters may hinge up
on the most trifing circumstances has anoth-
cr example in that of Ribera or Spagnoletto,
which was determined by "A very simple Incl
| dent. He went to reside with his father-in-
law, whose house. ii so happened, stood in
the vast square, one side of which was occu-
pied by the palace of the Spanish viceroy. 1t
was the custom in Italy. AS formerly among
the Greeks, that whenever an artist had COM
pleted any great work, lie should expose it in
some street or thoroughfare for the public to
pass Judgment on it In compliance with
this usage. Riber's father-in-law placed in
his balcony the 'Martyrdom of St. Bartholo-
new" as soon as it was finished The people
flocked in crowds to see it, and testified their
admiration by deafening shouts of applause.
These acclamations reached the ears of the
NNtibN. WV lllhHlutu luht u fresh revolt Itttl
broken out. and rushed in complete armor to
the spot. There he beheld in the painting
the cause of so much tumult The viceroy
desired to see the man who had distinguished
himself by 50 marvellous production and
his interest IN the painter was not lessened on
discovering that lie was. like himself a Span
lard He immediately attached Spagnoletto
to his person, gave him an apartment in his
palrce, and proved a generous patron ever
afterward.
Lanfnnco, the wealthy and munifoent ar.
tst, ON his way from the church II Gesil, haI.
pened to observe an oil-painting hanging out
side picture-brokei's shop Lanfrauco stop.
ped his carriage and desired the picture to be
brought to him. Wiping the thick dust
from the canvas, the delighted broker brought
it, with many bows and apologies. TO the
great master, who on nearer inspection saw
that his first glance had been correct. The
picture was labeled "Hagar and her Son Ish
mael dying of Thirst" and the subject was
treated in a new and powerful manner. Ian
franco looked for the name of the painter
and detecting the word Salyatoriello modest
ly set in corner of the picture he gave
instructions to his pupils to buy up every
work of Salvatorello they could find in Ma.
pies. To this accident Salvador owed tn,
sudden demand for his pictures. which chang
ed his poverty and depression into compare
tive ease and satisfaction.
More than one famous singer might prob
ably never have been heard of but for som,
discriminating patron CHANGING to hear
beautiful voice perhaps exercised in tn,
streets for the pence Of the compassionate
Some happy stage-hits have resulted from o
originated in accidents. The odd hop skip ant
jump SO effective in the delineation of Dun
dreary, says an American interviewer of Mr.
Sothern, was brought about in this way. II
the words of the actor; 1T was n mere ac
; cident. | have naturally an elastic disposi
tion, and during rehearsal one cold morn
ing was hopping at the back of the stage
, when Miss keene sarcasticaly inquired if
was going to introduce that into Dundreary
, The actors and actresses standing arounC
laughed and taking the cue, replied; Yes
, Miss Keene that's my view of the character.
| Having said this | was bound to stick to it
and as | progressed with the rehearsal
, found that the whole company, including
scene-shifters and property -men, were roar
: ing with laughter at my Internal nonsense
, When 1 saw that the public accepted tn
f satire, | toned down what was a broad carica
| ture TO what can be seen at the present da,
f by any one who has quick sense of the alb
2 surd"
= An excellent landscape of Salvador Rosa
exhibited at the British Institution in 1872
f came to be painted in n curious way. Tn
: painter happened one day to be amusing him
t self tuning an old harpsichord some one oh
= served that he was surprised he could take s.
e much trouble with an instrument that was no
! worth crown. Il bet you l make it wort
a thousand before have done with it" erie
Rosa The bet was taken and Salvador paint
ed on the harpsichord landscape that no
only sold for thousand crowns, but was es
e teemed a tirst-rate painting Chemistry an
{ pathology are indebted to what has ofte
a seemed the merest chance for many an i'm
4 portant discovery. A French paper says
I has been accidentally discovered that in case
I of epileptio fits, a black-silk handkerchie
n thrown over the afflicted persons will restor
I them Immediately. Advances in science an
e art and sudden success in professions, hay