, 1881-04-17

| CHEEK VS.. <1RT.
. It is a great mistake to suppose that all arc
artist who live by art. The pretensiDns OF
| some of the cleyercr sort Of hulnbugs are apt
| to misIead those who listen very Ioug to
| their self-praise, or ARE undecided as tn what
| is really good. But occasionally there aI,-
pears charlatan with such magnificent
esotism, such audacious ilnpudcncc, and
sublimcly unconccious ignorance, that
nothing is left but laughter for those
who have any sense Of llumor about
them. OF this latter sort is per-
son who drives frequently to the art
furnishing stores Of Chicago. accompanied
usually by a Chinese man and woman. WHO
are supposed to decorate the twenty or thirty
canvases that she generally orders upon
such an occasion with good Anslo-Saxon
portraits done BY their own Celestial hands.
According to her circulars, which she dis
tributes freely, she is "A thoronsh-going
business-woman, being Of commanding pres
ence, tall, stately, and graceful, and brim-
fair appreciation of her own qualifications
and charms, which as 4 business-womlan -
she could not fail to take advantage Of. 4
little further on she says:
l have brought from Etlropc one of her most
talented artists for operator and asslstant-1nnn-
ngcr IN my gallery: IL bus had honorable men
hanging in my gallery. have also brought
direct from China especially. for this establish
1nent two of the most skilled artists in oil pnin1-
ing that could be found in TINT vast country.
While the grammatical construc ton Of the
foregoing is little unusual, the meaning is
not to be mistaken, and it is cheering to know
that il you do not choose to be portrayed By
these a1mond-eyed ;lrtists, utter the Hat style
now in vogue upon our fans and tire-screens,
you can fud in reserve all exponent Of art
not quite 50 far-fetched, but whose skill is
guaranteed by the - honorable Mcu ton A" so
conSpicu0usly hung.
II is always Interesting to know something
of the personal history Of remarkable people,
SO she goes on to say:
i started this business for my sister. who WIS
left widow with two little buys. Her husband |
died OF ycllow-fever In the year 1878. Then her |
sorrows began; misfortune by fire, auu every |
one seemed to take advantage to deprive her Of
her rights Ny health being. poor, took trip |
around the Continent, and ulso had business iii |
residence, and needed caring for, came tu tnd
On the third day OF my arrival she died of hasty
consum%Rtion, % thereby leaving me two orphan
such has fallen my ut, and bud health aud mis-
fortunes have kept Inc from reHching the hight
nrst-class Artist III Otis, but these numerous
lrnwbncks have reventcd the necessary prac-
ice and work: SO my next greatest desire is to
see others happy.
After having thus excited your interest
and sympathy, she follows with this state
nent: '' mean to place before tie public
portraits in oil, painted from old tintypes
tnd photographs, Ut people long since passed
eway, that will as1onisll YOU. no doubt
Under my personal supervision faded pict
ire can be copied Oh canvas so 1lfe-like and
It prices that defy competition All this is
lot beyond belief, but the extravaEant state
l,ent that she his also engaged Il: Japanese
riyPS rise tn the Suericiof} that |
le must be connected with her laundry.
The last page Of this remarkable circular
S devoted 1o il poem which rivals ANYTHING
yer written by" the Sweet Singer Of Michi-
ended to be 50, hut was evidently written in
ood faith, anu with view to -arousing the |
OF possible patrons. 1t is to he
RESUMED that the ''unlbler" poplars re-