South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-06-14
A Pale Of Two Pictures.
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Z. ii % not generally known thai Iown has The
ihopor and ownership OF two or tbs oldest Iana
6nest works OF art in existence. oonpte,ed With
which is An interesting aud remArk abs scrap OF
history The year following The clyse of the,
war DIR. -, Of FL. Dodge. was called to visit
a patient some dis,ance 10 the coIa,ry. He
was conducted to a rude cahin,4 and found tho
patient to be q soldier tho had served. brough
the late unpleasan,uess," and had ssliled up
on bis bounty land. The scene was one or aaaa.
lof and deaf nton. In lieu OF a door to''tHe
horel, heayy saRyass SWING from. the pase.
ment, and made feeble pre,ense Of eyclading
wind and weather from the miserable apart
ment. The doctor pushed aside the curtsin aud
entered The cherries cabin, prescribed for The
sick sGa was about TO take his departYre
when his atiention was attracted 70 the canvass,
upon which were the outlines and yeojpTing af a
pietufo too shAdowy and indistinct ia the, dark
ened room 10 furnish any deHHite IDEA Of ils
merits or character. 'i"'b
The doctors curiosity was fully aroused. and
on closer inspection, great was h is astonishment
to discover a.mnster piece reaec,ing rs no lee
over the forlorn scene Of SILK ness and obssusi.,
iy. lie a; once made close, inquir! into The
history Of the paiDiing, aud RECEIVED in, answer
the inflammation that IL was one Of the trophies
OF 'Sberidan's March 10 the Sea (" TX passing
through the country m that even tftIl march
the soldiers had eneoRptsred ysbstybssd evidtni-
Iy been the pslsiia abode Of some wealthy sris..
tocrat OF The south, now dismantled OF all its
costly adornmsnts sayibg the pictures which
still hung within the siGen, snd deserted halls
Here Sheridan AID his usn IRxdfiousIy tfisoa.
acked Tor the night and as they were about 70,
respps their march to the sea on the following
morning, two Of The pictures were torn from
their sHetcbers, rolled up and de posted 10 one
OF the soldier knapsacxs "a Souvenir ofthe
night they spent " This the splendid home OF
, fallen chiyary, The circumstances was sooa
forgotten, and The pic,pre slowed sFsy with
other useless relics OF the rebellion, until within
a few day 9 Of the physicians visit, in making
search Tor some means to exclude The cold from
Che cabin, the paintings were unesrthed and rui
TO such ''bsse usesr AZ We have named !. THE
Physioisn being Of southern birth, WIS deeply
interested in the recital OF their history, and By
giving couple OF India rubber blankets In eI,
change became the lucky possessor OF ,asvs
roatchless gems OF art, They we're sent 70 New
York, cleansed and framed. and attracted a
great deal Of attention in art circles. After be-
ing on exhibition in the above city FOR several
months, they Esse retur.ed to Iowa. THE DO
est and largest picture, which probably msas-
erss loxs0feet in size, Is evidently, faithful
copy "a Boar Hunt in PHdro" TIE other isthe
celebrated work "Diaua and Her Huutne DoE.'
The piciures have been examined By we'll kpown
connoissieqrs ofart who have pronounced them
rare gems Of whistle merit and beauty Large
sums nave been offered for them bot with the
loyal spirit Of a true sou,bWner. DE-. - bss
sf used them all, hoping that time aud oircsm.
STAGES would reveal their earlier history, and
That he would be enabied 70 restore the valued
paintings 70 their originh owner But az g.
many years have elapsed and they are stili o. /.
shTouded with the shadow OF lime and mystery.
Iowa will probably conuqus to be the home o.
two pictures that have world wide reputation.