River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-07
Turner'S Queen Anne Street nonse.

fection.--4uth0r Of I'VE Boys" st. Nith-
oLaS fer February.
Turner'S Queen Anne Street nonse.
Weather-staine; and soot-grimmed
without, the Qnetn Anne Street house
was still more dismal within. The gal
lery, where were stored treasures of ines
Unable worth, was dreary and dilapidat-
ed. The drugget, once red, was gray and
threadbare; the screen was made of the
black strips of some refuse or remain
DER the red cloth on the walls. marked
all over with tack holes, had been bought
by turner as bargain, after having been
used at the Abbey for the Queens coro-
nation. In winter the gallery had a lit
tie fire, but not enough 10 destroy the
dampness which crept IN at every crack
and corner. Many or the pictures became
cracked, warped and seriously injured
In one picture a great white button Of
paint, that had stood for the sun, had
dropped off. II think some one has
picked it off Intentionally" said visitor
one day.
~ think somebody has replied Tur
ner. unmoved. Here, in this cherries
little room, stacked against the walls,
hanging where the rain streamed down
the canvasses from the warped sashes and
paper patched frames of the ill-fitting
sky.lights, were collected some of the
noblest landscapes that We're painted,
while in other parts of the dismal house
thirty thousand proofs of magnificent en-
cravings piles of drawings and sketches
the rudiments and first thoughts of Tin
ished works-were stuffed in dark closets,
or laid away in portfolios and presses and
boxes, rotting and moding, uncared for
by any one but the tailless cats that hid
among them. Notes for hundreds, cheeks
fer thousands, had been offered again and
again in that gallery to the ar
tist. He always refused to part with his
pictures there. Eager and grasping to
make money, he showed strange per-
sistency in keeping certain treasures in
his possession.
Although he left the Building of
Carthage " to be injured in the wretched
gallery, he sternly refused it at one time
to gentleman who offered e25, 1000 for it.
" You cannot have it," said he; it is
willed to the nation" This picture was
originally painted for et00 for gentle
man who declined to take it because the
critics were very severe on its character,
and Turner felt great delight in being Of
ferred such an immense sum for 1t after
ward. "Now they cannot have it." he
used often to say. "Thev shell never
buy it for money" To certain pictures
he was deeply attached, and when induced
to sell them, would go about wearing a
look of great detection, When pressed
ny some friend to explain the reason OF
his trouble, he would sorrowfully exclaim,
6 I've lost one of my children this week"
Turner was always peculiar about selling
pictures.
At times he would receive a customer
with the greatest affability, and easily
make bargain or undertake q commits
sion; this was when he by chance was in
good humor. At one time, when offered
$1,000 apiece for a few old sketch-books,
he proceeded to turn them over leaf by
leaf before the eyes of the delighted pur-
chaser ''Well. would you really like to
have them7" The man, with the money
ready in his hands, was proceeding to tax
possession, when Turner, with d malicious
IL dare say you would suddenly locked
them in a drawer aud turned on his heel,
leaving the would-be purchaser in indig-
nant establishment. Sometimes, by lit
tie wit and daring, Of both of which Tur-
ner had large share, and which qualities
he admired in others, purchaser would
put him in moment in a tractable mood.
A rich manufacturer Of Birmingham once
determined to obtain admission at any
price to the enchanted house i'll Queen
Anne Street.
Arrived at the blistered, dirty door of
the house with the black -crusted windows,
he pulled the bell, which answered with
querulous, melancholy tinkle. After a
long, inhospitable pause. an old woman
with a diseased tace, having looked up
from the area, slowly assembled ADD tardl-
" opened the door. She snapishly asked
the gentleman business; and when he
told her in his blandest voice, Can't
let'e in" was the answer; after which she
slammed the door But during the parley
he had put his foot in; and now, declar
ing further interruption, he pushed past the
feeble, enraged .janitress, and hurried up
stairs to the gallery. In moment Turn.
or was out upon him with the prompt
rude of spider whose web has been in
vaded. The gentleman bowed, introduced
himself, and stated that he had come to
buy.
tDon't want to SELL" was the answer
'Have you ever seen our Birmingham
pictures, Mr.. Turner?" inquired the visitor
with unruffled placidity. Never card
of 'em," said Turner. The merchant now
drew from his pocket a silvery bundle OF
Birmingham bank-notes. "Mere paper"
observed Turner evidently enjoying the
Joke. ITO be bartered for mere canvas"
said the visitor, waving his hand in the
direction of some beautiful paintings
This tone of cool depreciation had hap
by effect Turner at once became civil,
even jovial, and the visitor soon departed
with several valuable pictures, for which
he had paid 5.000.-Harpers Magazine
for February.