Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1881-06-18
AnecdOte OF MierIs, the Dutch pain

Il
He and Steen were the closest
! friends. It has been asserted that
Mieris often would touch up q plct-
ure for Steen, and, together with
Lievens and Aug. de VOs, thew
often passed the night in drinking
at Steen's tavern; and when the
hosts ruin came, the friends trans
ierred their meetings and cOnvivial-
ity to the nearest beer-house.
One OF these midnight revels near
ly cost Mieris his life, for, separating
very late, and a good deal under the
influence OF the liquor they had
drunk, the friends started ON their
different ways. Mieris, passing ov-
er one of the bridges, fell into an
open sewer, and being too much in
toxicatedto help himself intelligent
~, being able to do nothing but call
for aid, came very near suffocating.
1t so happened that i'm the immedi-,
ate neighborhood there lived a cob
bier, 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 bGde her husband stop his ham
mering and singing that they might
listen, when, the sounds becoming
more distinct the good couple took
their lamp and went into the street
to see who wanted aid. When they
discovered Mieris i'm 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 questions,
but carried him to their home, anu
when they had revived him, start
ed 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 1t, and forbore to tell his pre-
servers his name. He, however.
wished to show them some proof II
his gratitude for their timely aid,
and began to paint for them a pict-
ure; but as the time he could give
to the work was only his absolutely
unOccupied hours, his progress WAS
slow, and il was full two years be-
fore his labor was finished. Taking
the picture, carefully concealed un-
der his cloak, he sought the cob
bler's house, where he found only
the wife at home, who evidently
did not recognize her visitor.
By dint of skillful questions he
that though remember
ing the circumstances of his acci-
dent, the couple had no idea Of
whom they had been the rescuers.
Placing the picture on the table, he
said in his gracious manner: "Here
accept this as small to-
ken of gratitude from the unknown
you so kindly assisted. IL you
would rather, at any time, turn the
picture into money, you have only
10 take it to Mr.. Praats," and Civ
ng the direction, he vanished,
having told his name. The
,Obbler and his wife showed the
picture to several OF their beighbors
md even they, unlearned in art, de-
elared 1t must be worth u good sum.
The woman's curiosity was excited,
md she carried the picture to the
Jacob Nandermas, in
whose family she had previously
lived. He instantly recognized
Mieris's hand; and wondering at
inding such gem in the possession
If his old servant, questioned her
IS to how she had obtained il, and
heard her singular story. lie said
le himself would give hundred
lucatoons for the picture, but adj
led, generously, "PerhapS you had
Detter take it to'-naming we'll
,nown amateur-"and ask him
light hundred florins for the pic
ure; he will give them" Tho
obbler's wife found this valuation
vas the correct one. Tradition
loes not tell us what the picture
vas which owed its existonce to
he dnlucky consequences Of a mid
light revel.-E. MASON, i'm Hdrpcrs
Magazine for July.