The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-08

ermen Feasting Their Eyes on
SpeckIed Beauties-Death of an
Eminent Portrait Painter-The
Story Of an Indiana Mans Expe-
rience with Gypsies-N How Free
Masons Befriended an Orphan-A
Postage-stamp Episode.
Special Correspondence of the Star
BROOKLYN, N. Y, April 5, 1880.
So many subjects present their claims
to consideration that am afraid my let
ter this week will assume the character
Of a literary melange-a sort of potpourri
for which the reader pays his money and
takes his choice with some chance of
somewhere finding a grain of comfort.
There was time when the let of April
was relegatedeo the domain of the small
boy and his piece of chalk and paper
streamers; but that time has long since
rome by, and from degenerate Fools Day
1t has advanced to scientific Trout Day,
and is looked forward to with the keenest
anticipation by epicures and followers of
old Izaak Walton. On that day all eyes
turn to the section of Fulton Market,
New York, presided over by Mr.. Eugene
G. Blackford, Assistant U. s. Commits
sioner of Fisheries, and thither wend the
steps of many prominent scientific and
professional gentlemen who have received
elegant illuminated cards of invitation,
besides host of other people who have
not been so favored, but are as welcome
as the others, since the display assumes
the character of a sale as well as of an
exhibition. ...
This year the famous pisciculturist
and Commissioner, Seth Green, was
among the attractions, and his zeal and
enthusiasm were attracted by his don
ming blue smock and taking his place
behind the slabs upon which rested the
speckled beauties. The fish represented
brooks and lakes all over the world.
Here were wild trout and cultivated
trout-trout from California, Nevada
Canada, England, France-trout from
Brooklyn, from Long Island, from any
where and everywhere. Frank Clark, of
Worthwhile, Michigan, was represented
by fish hatched from eggs spawned in
California and B. B. Redding, Commits
sioner of Fisheries for California, by
dolly Vardens," and trout from Nc
Cloud River, Truckee River, and Tahoe
Lake, all looking as fresh as though
Just taken from the water. Then there
were live trout swimming about in glass
tanks, and trout in every stage of devel
opment from the egg, with its micro
scopic spot betokening dawning vitality,
to the lively fellow a foot or more long.
During the three days the exhibition
iasted-it closed Saturday evening
10000 pounds of trout were handled by
by Mr. Blackford aud sold at prices rang
ing from 60 cents 70 81 per pound for
cultivated and 25 to 40 cents per pound
for wild, while live trout readily brought
81 80 per pound. Formerly decided
preference was shown for wild trout, but
as this class of fish must remain longer
in ice than the cultivated fish, which fre-
quently come from ponds and streams
near the city, the public demand is now
for the latter. 1t was very amusing to
watch the purchasers, especially when
now and then some "swell'' would 20 off
with his "pound of flesh" in the shape of
fish so small that it seemed as though
tie only way he could get satisfaction
out of it must be by tying string to the
tail and alternately swallowing it and
drawing it up again.
The art world has just experienced a
severe loss, and wide circle of fellow
workers and friends not soon to be for
gotten bereavement in the death of Geo.
A. Baker, the artist, and prominent mem
her of the National Academy of Design.
Death was due to that painful and sell
dom durable malady, Brights disease.
He was a New Yorker by birth, and only
last month celebrated his ffty-ninth
birthday. What he contributed to art
was therefore American, and his death
accordingly becomes a national calamity
His forte was portraiture, and he was
especially successful in treating children,
whose innocence, simplicity and fresh
ness found responsive chords in his own
sweet nature. La the last exhibition of
the Brooklyn Art Association he was
represented by one of these sweet half
idealized interpretations of childhood,
and many visitor after making the
rounds Of the gallery returned to feast
their eyes on this charming canvas. A
fine cut after one of his ideal female
heads may be found in Benjamin's "Art
in America" and will convey some idea
of his style, though not of his exquisite
sense of color Writes one who knew
him well: "He was very popular among
his brother artists, and his gentleness
kindness, generosity and true manliness
endeared him to all who knew him. He
always abounded in sympathy and en-
couragement for young and struggling
artists, and had profound and earnest
love for art" What greater, what better
praise, can man have than this in an
age when envy or contempt is separating
workers from one another in more pro-
fessions than one?
The other MORNING hannenino Sin Mt