The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-02
Galveston as an Art Center.
Galveston News.l

81 want to show you little picture 1 have
drawn. Perhaps you want to make an art
criticism on it, am only an amateur, but
nay friends here in Galveston think this fine
work of art" and he placed large crayon
drawing on the desk.
The News reporter looked at it carefully, and
said:
sit is indeed wonderful production. 1t is
life itself. have often seen Mexicans break
wild horses, and that's just the way they do it.
1t almost seems to me 1 can hear them swear
in Spanish. How firmly the rider sticks to the
saddle! What could be more natural than the
attitudes of the Mexicans, who are trying to
hold the horse down by the bride? suppose
the scene must be near Fort Concho, by those
Federal troops at dress = trade in the back
ground"
The young artist seemed very much sur
prised. Finally he said:
SIT isn't in the right light for you to under
stand ii" and he stood the picture up. "You
will perceive it is battle piece. 1t is Gener-
al Lee at the battle of the Wilderness"
What is General Lee trying to steal the
bride off that mans horse for?'
"That is not General Lee; that is one of the
Texans. General Lee is on the horse"
'What is the Texan trying to steal the brdle
off General Lees horse for, then?'
''He is not trying to steal the bridle he is
cannot risk his life in charging the enemy"
SIS that SOP" said the reporter, shading his
eyes so as to get good view of the picture.
"It looks to me as if the man on horseback,
whom you say is General Lee-but think you
must be mistaken-it looks to me as if he had
just caught sight of the Federals, had wheeled
his horse and was trying to make his escape.
You can see ne is badly scared by his face. At
this moment two soldiers catch his bridle
One of them says: you amt going to run off
| and 1QavQ NO har on foot wit fha ho 70 hold
You have got us into this scrape and now you
have got to stay and fight The third soldier
is evidently trying to get up behind the gener-
al on the horse so he can get out of the way of
the Yanks."
The young mans face got red, and he said:
"Yoa don't seem to know much about art.
You can see by the determined expression on
General Lees face that he is going to lead
charge"
''If it is General Lee, and he charges at all,
he is going to charge the rear. He is charg-
ing away from the enemy. think you must
be mistaken about that being Lee. He wasn't
that kind of a man."
Il had to turn the horse round a little so
you could see Lees face"
$50 you are one of the soldiers who was try
ing to steal General Lees new bride off his
horse? You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
And whydo you want to turn General Lees
horse around so can see his face, when 1
wasn't at that battle at all? Lemme see
where was about that time? L believe was
in San Antonio. But let me advise you what
to do before any of those old Texas soldiers
see that picture. You can take those Federal
soldiers in the background prisoners they
don't look dangerous), and put them in the
foreground, so General Lee can get a chance
at them or else you can make that fellow quit
stealing Lees bride, and turn the horse round
IL you are sure it is Lee"
The reporter looked up and saw the retreat
ing form of Galveston's young amateur artist
going out of the door with the batte-pece un-
der his arm He slammed the door, too.