The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-06-30
manitowof pilot.
THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1881.
ANECDOTE OF MIERIS, THE
DUTCH PAINTER.

DUTCH PAINTER.
He and Steen were the closest
friends. 1t has been asserted that
Mieris often would touch up pict-
ure for Steen, and, together with
Lievens and Aug. de Vos, they
often passed the night in drinking
at Stems tavern; and when the
hosts ruin came, the friends trans
ferred their meetings and conviv-
iality TO the nearest beer-house.
One of these midnight revels
nearly cost Mieris his life, for sep
arating very late, and a good deal
under the influence of the liquor
they had drank, the friends start
ed on their different ways. MIeris,
passing over one of the bridges,
fell into the open sewer, and being
too much intoxicated to help him
self lntelligently, being able to do
nothing but to call for aid, came
very near suffocating. 1t so hap
pened that in the immediate neigh
bornood there lived a cobbler, who
was even at that late hour working,
and his wife was dutifully keeping
watch with him. She thought she
heard cries Of distress, and babe
her husband stop his hammering
and singing that they might listen,
when, the sound becoming more
distinct, the good couple took their
lamp and went into the street to
see who wanted aid. When they
discovered Mieris in his perilous
position, they speedily rescued him
and though wondering that man
so finely dressed, with silver but
tons on his coat, should be choking
in the mud, they asked no ques-
tons, but carried him to their
home, and when they had revived
him, started him on his homeward
way. Mieris, when he realized
what his danger had been, was
ashamed both of his adventure and
the cause that led to it, and fore
bore to tell his preservers his name.
He, however, wished to show them
some proof ofhis gratitude for their
timely aid, and began to paint them
picture; but as the time he could
give to the work was only his alb
solutely unoccupied hours, his prog
ress was slow, and it was full two
years before his labor was finished.
Taking the picture, carefully con-
cealed under his cloak, he sought
the cobbler's house, where he
found only the wife at home, who
evidently did not recognize her
visitor.
BY dint of skillful questions he
discovered that though remember
ing the circumstances Of his acct
dent, the worthy couple had no
idea of whom they had been the
reScuers. Placing the picture on
the table, he said in his gracious
manner: ''Here, madam, accept
this as a small token Of gratitude
from the unknown you SO kindly
assisted. If you would rather, at
any time, turn the picture into
money, you have ouly to take it to
Mr.. Praats," and giving the direc-
ton, he vanished, without having
told his name. The cobbler and
his wife showed the picture to sew
eral of their neighbors, and even
they, unlearned in art, declaring
it must be worth a good sum.
The woman's curiosity was excit-
ed, and she carried the picture to
the burgomaster, Jacob Wander
MAS, in whose family she had
previously lived. He instantly
recognized Mieris's hand; and
wondering at finding such a gem
in the possession Of his old servant,
questioned her as to how she had
obtained it, and heard her singu-
larry story. He said he himself
would give a hundred ducatoons
for the picture, but added, gener-
ously, ''Perhaps you had better
take it to"-naming well-known
amateur-"and ask him eight hun
dred forms for the picture; he will
give them" The cobbler's wife
found this valuation was the cor
rect one. Tradition does not tell
us what the picture was which
owed its existence to the unlucky
consequences of a midnight revel.
THERE was joy on the farm when
Ben, theoldest boy, came back from
college in his sophomore year, and
the village was proud of him.
"Chease il. cnlly.n he said when he