Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-04-19

lllat my poor aunt lhCnnCt,
One room in her houe had always
been placed 1t my disposal, but the first
time occupied it after his art fever
had seized upon her | was fairly con-
founded, The furniture had lisap-
peared completely. A great clumsy
carved chest did duty for the very
handsome dressing bureau, tiny plato
ot polished steel replaced the cheval-
glass; an attcnuated stand holding y
basin, and reminding oneirrcSisubly ot
4 dentists apparatus, WAS i wrctchcd
substitute for the stationary waSh-Stand
with lis abundant suppy of Croton;
while some tnrce-leeged stools passed
for chairs
Although | had long been persuaded
of the folly Of unwiSe opposition could
not help demonstrating With my aunt
that time.
\ least YOU might have left me tho
Croton, aunt" | declared, after vain
representations Of my discomfort But
She only replied, sweetly
" | couldn't, my de;r nephew, /
couldn't Ihdt was 50 horrible out Of
Keeping with the rest 81 the appoint
ments. You can't miN the centuries III
that inartisGc way
Settings went ON, from bad to worse,
until al last the very rugs disappeared,
and the floors were all strCwn with what
my aunt called rpShoS, but which |
ignonntly and unbchevngly termed
hon Then congratulated myself that
We had reached climax and could
fare no worse; but | was iAlstakcn.
One day ON entering the pNrlor, |
was conscious of very disagrceable
odor, just such perfume, III fact, as
one might expect TO obtain by diStilling
half Il dozen tcnement-houscs and MS
many cmigrant-ships and bottling the
result | soon found that this fragrance
was due to some fearfully dirty and tat
tcrcd hangings, evidently new acqWs-
ton, which drapcd the walls, and made
the apartment look like II vcritahle
rag-shop.
When my aunt came down ven
turcd, in the most delicate manner, to
call her attention to this unpleasant
peculiarly Of her new possessions, and
to ask if II little fumigation might not
be advisable. Such II look as She gnye
mel Then she said, severely
" Frederic, those hangings are in
valuable. They arc so Old that their
age is involved in he.mistS Of antiquity
It is, however, probable .hat they were
ut one time III the posses on of William
the Conqueror, for here i'll this corner
you can sec the remains of his mono
gram. Look, here is pdl't Of the w and
one curve Of the c. and my aunt lifted
one end of the worn and faded fabric
with the tcndcrest care imaginable, and
held il up for inspection.
"Yes, yes, | see. Remarkably dis
tinct," answered, shrinking from
nearer contact "Ofcourse they are
a great prize and uncommon treasure
but-as they are so roy old-don't you
think my dear aunt. you might better
have them washed, just to aissipate the
dust Of the centuries, you know"
No, indeed" she replied, with ~
admiring glance Mt her hangings. Not
for the world would allow such M
outrage. You don't seem to compre'
hend, Frederic, that this very odor oI
which you so unreasonably complain is
the trucst evidence of their age, and
to lose it would be to lose half the proc
Of their gcnuincness.'
| said no more. Inhaled that per
vasive odor in silence, but made VI
my mind to see the family physician n
once, and give him hint Of my aunt's
mental condition.
However, before long the obnoxious
hangings came down III accordance
with il new whim. On paying my usua
visit, found Mrs. kerammik seateC
on Il pile of skins At one side Of thc
room Similar piles Of skins occupied
every corner, some Of them heapeC
high as couches. In the centre stood {
rude chest, evidently doing duty as /.
table. Here and there, Oh the nov
bare walls, hung stuffed birds, horns
and huge shells, II took me some time
to see all this, for the only illumination
proceeded from some torches scattered
about the apartment, and producing q
much smoke as light. Having made
out to reach the pile Of skins upoI
which my aunt was sitting, ] sat dowI
beside her, and yontured 70 ask th'
meaning Of this last transformation.
Because she said, decidedly, 81
haze found out that in return to pri
mitive forms and usages alonethe high
est Art consists. Depend upon it, Ere
deric, our chairs and couches, our Ia
bles and huiiets, are butthe nnnatura
outgrowth Of too much civilization
Life free, untrammeled, artistic, vii
have none Of these absurd and cum
brous appliances, these commonplace
comfortable surroundings We mus
20 back, back Of these arbitrary forms
and make ourselves independent y
them, il wc would reach tie best, I'll,
only true, artistic culture" f"