Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-03
A GOOD INVESTMENT.

A GOOD INVESTMENT.
From the German OF M. Beermann.
TRANSLATED FOR THE STAR BY IDA NJ F1sHER.]
In the middle of the seventeenth century there
lived In Rome the celebrated sculptor and archi-
tect, Alexander Algardi. One day his friend,
the renowned artist CerquoZZi, entered bis work.
shop. "Fr1end," said he, "Pve come to you to-
day to get little advice. have an order to
paint q picture of st. John, the Evangelist.
Now you can imagine what anxiety am in. I
want beautiful model; can you tell me Of
one?'
"Giacintol" cried Algardi, "let us look at you
At this young man of about twenty-five en-
tered the room He had served as model for
AlgaTdi for several months.
Cerquozzi gazed with the delight OF true ar
list upon the perfect face and exclaimed: I" an
no longer aStonished that our devOut Romans
kneel with such fervor before tle images that
come from your studlo!'
him."
Cerquozzi, in his delight, failed to notice with
what peculiar emphasis Algardi expressed his
man: "Are you willing to come to me?"
.Oh, yes" was the answer; "providing you
promise to give me lessons In painting, mas
ter
81 hore," observed Algardi, ironically, "t that
the brush Will be more agreeable to you than
the chtsel has BEEN"
pupil Of the painter; but from the very begin
ming he did not get along well in art. After he
had covered large canvas with varied cOlorng
he examined his work with the greatest minute
ness, and recognizing that his first trial was no
masterpiece. he walked angrlly away from the
picture aid cried: 81 viii never be great
painter!" Then he broke into flood of tears
and added In choking voice: Sand yet must
win fame, must make money!"
During the first month GiaclntO laid brush
AID palette aside he grew silent and SAD: as
John every morning he would go to some quiet
place and trifie away the whole day in idle
reverie.
Once when his master expressed his surprise
at such conduct for young man, he answered.
master, you can very easily be content and
happy happy you are a great artist and can make
Eyes, but do you think, boy, that gaze up in
the air for heaven to shower fame and fortune
down into my lap? Do as / do, work inces-
sanity, untiriHgiy, and when you are about
"Forty?" he cried In dismay, "that is impos-
sible, that is an eternity, that is as good as
Eever!"
One day, after Giacinto had spent Sunday In
the ,peighborhocd of Tivo!l, he appeared In the
studio with somewhat more cheerful manner,
and begun very 1ndustriously TO sketch the
head Of a madonna.
master. 4" 1t seems to me as though had seen
the original OF your picture, somewhere"
"Ah, MASTER" was the reply, '1f you had ever
seen the original, face to face. this would ap-
pear miserable daub."
Foolish boy! At your age found too, that
the madonna OF my dreams far exceeded all
that my brush could do. Perhaps that is the
Follow my example, and sketch from lfe."
1t seemed GiacintO'S Intention, however, to
paint a madonna; for regularly every Monday,
after spending sunday In the neighborhood OF
I1volf. he would wipe out the madonna of the
former week, and begin to paint new one.
SIX or seven canvases were already spoiled In
cast aside bis palette, and, without any visible
cause, fell into his old melancholy, which had
disappeared for time.
The master, who noticed the sudden change,
was much provoked at it. When he called upon
Agardi, and the conversation accidentally fell
upon his pupil, he could not refrain from say
Ing, IN tone OF reproach: That's a perfect
fool you gave me for model and scholar"
"He'S fellow that will come to some bad end
yet" replied Algardi, dryly; and he hurried on
to another subject as If the present one were
disagreeable.
ON his way home one unfavorable conjecture
AFTER another regarding his pupil passed
through the masters mind, and as ne entered
the house 1t happened 70 be just at an unrortu-
nate moment when he overheard an exclama-
tion OF GiaciDto's that filled his soul with
terror.
Money! money! cried he to himself. "Mur-
der and steal, poor fellow, because heaven did
your mouthl" ~f~-A -
The master had hard work to keep himself
man: "alaclhto, said he, severely you Dc can
pack your effects together and leave me-this
evening, do YOU understand? And never let me
lay eyes On you agatn!"
commenced his preparations for leaving In
his present mood his dismissal was hardly a
drop IN the ocean OF his sorrow.
CerQuOZZf was more cOnfOunded than ever at
this prompt execution Of his order; he could not
comprehend why this peculiar person was so
willing to get out OF his house. fIe hurried to
The bed, opened 1t, and then drew breath of
relief. "9od be praised!' he exclaimed; 1.-THE
crime has not been committed yeti"
As happy as the painter was 10 find his treas
ure undlstur0ed, be also rejoiced that Giacinto
had not been guilty OF theft. "But Is It not
ranged his plans that it is Indifferent to him
whether he is IN the house or out OF 1t, since he
feels confident OF their succeSs?"
This idea took such firm hold of him that he
thought OF nothing else than how he should
Illustrate Giacinto's attempt to seize his treas
ure.
Cerquez1 had not been always so fortunate as
TO possess so considerable sum. 1t had hap
pened within the last week that several knights
Instead or pay Ing him after the completion of
the work, had honored him with cash payment
In advance for considerable number or orders
He had determined not to be long the keeper OF
SO much money, when the care or it robbed him
OF all peace. But at that time In Rome there
100 AOtuA41S, w VIC OOuC Will utouSy UuL UuL III
at the loan Office, and he had decided objection
TO that. SO he had been waiting for an oppor-
tuntty more to his taste to offer itself; but now
the imminent danger with which he believed
himself threatened, compelled him to take an
Immediate step towards saving his capital.
He remembered that when he returned from
bis visit to Algardi, in q remote wild looking
place surrounded by rocks, he had seen deep,
dark grotto and the thought had suggested
itself that 1t would be capital place for mlser
to hide his treasure.
He very soon came to resolution then. "Let
the rObber come when he will now" he cried as
he took the chest under hts arm '.he will
neither find me nor my money!"
gold filled chest Is very heavy and the
grOttO was i've or Six hours walk from Rome.
But the hight was very clear. thousands OF stars
giiLtered In the armament and delightfully."-
cool air followed the days heat. 1t was lust
the weather for walking, and so it happened
that CeLQuOZZf went the first three hours very
easily and without resting.
But then things changed. Heated by his
hasty march, our Traveller found the air close
and oppressive, and the perspiratlon started on
his TOrehead then he felt little ffne5s In his
limbs. The more tired he became the greater
did the weight or the chest seem to him: he
cbanged II from one arm to the other, and then
TO his shoulders, but only found that his Weari-
ness increased.
At length he felt the absolute necessity Of
rest, so he stopped and sat down. s.IIow often
have travelled this road" said he to himself,
"dId never grew tired but nOw TO be- sure