The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-05-04

We stood and watched the pasaing th1oae
And soon donkey passed along
With ears like wings .x:ended wide.
Aal gazing at the CO !eul brute
Ny sweetheart gave Z merry cry
quote her language with I s;gh---
10 Uha.iis, Amt he awful cute."
-D.nyer Tribune.
AN ARTISTS REVEN6E.
The Price Which q Belgian Miser Paid tor
His Picture.
Wiert2, the famous and ecceutlio Beleian
artist, (says the New York -.:WoylD:: Who
avenged himself who the Parisians reject.
ed one OF bis pictures by writing bis name
on genuine Rubens and sending it in to
be rejected also, should not be omitted from
the list Of painters who have brought re-.
tractory customers to terms. The object of
the his vengeance was a Brussels no.
tary. The artist rarely made the conces-
sion to paint sitter. but he fell in love
with the visitors face on first sight. Tho
notary was bald, his forehead heavily win.
kled; two piercing eyes looked out from
under bushy eyebrows; the nose had cim-
eter's curve, and the mouth was like the
edge OF sabre; the checks We're fiat and
colorless and the chin was pointed; all the
face was cleanly shayen, angular. keen, and
the professional white cravat gave it touch
impossible to describe but easy to imagine.
While thenotary was explaining his desire
to patronize art by ordering his portrait,
Wiertz was coming his visitors features
and getting his striking face by heart.
When, however, Van Speck, N. p, learned
that the price would beten thousand francs,
he rose brusquely, and took his hat.
of T.. ~ 4 kho
ly. That is my usual price, but as l am
interested in your face, and have an ardent
desire to paint it. shall be willing to make
moro favorable terms. What will you eiye?"
The notary named q ridiculously mad.
eQuate sum. The artist rejected the Offer
~arily, and long bargaining ensacd. during
which Wiertz Obtained the ::,tudy he had
coveted Of the face, with its every Inca
ment bearing the imprint of the notary's
ruling passion Of gain.
thousand francs. and Wiertz bade his patron
adieu, announcing chat he would shortly
N Ike al appointment for setting.
So soon as the man Of parehments had
::'perted Wisrtz leaped to his easel and
i-veii bly, set to work on the portrait which
us had in his mind. Rapidly and surely
tae picture came out upon the canvas till,
,hen night fell. from the dark back ground
Van Speck, N. P, looked out at the spec
tator, caught to the life, leaning his caada7-
-rous face On one locg, lank hand, while
on the table before him were books, parch-
N nts deeds. and all the apparatus of the
notarys study. Next morning he gave the
finishing touches to the picture. put it in
case. and calling the porter, bads him take
it to he notary's house and await an answer.
In about an hour the Porter returned.
The gentleman" he reported, had the
case opened 10 the hall and looked
at the picture. He said nothing
tut he made face and shook his
fist. Then he went up stairs. and present
~ he sent down this note. and said I was
to take the picture back. You owe me four
francs"
Wler;z took the note, which read as fol-
lows: Sir: I desire a portrait, and you
have sent me thing which bears no re-
seuihlancs whatever to ny fsce. l return
it, and beg that all comm unication between
Us may cease"
Wiez replaced tbs picture on his easel,
and in few hours had completely changed
Il, especially rs to the accessories. The
eyes now eveded the gaze, the lips we're
more closely drawn, the hook in the noee
became more pronounced. the okla
more severe. The background became a
dungeon wall with grated window, and in
lieu of a notarial "properies" appeared a
heavy stool, a Watering. mouldy crust
and bundle OF damp STRAW. This done.
the arts. boldly signed his picture, placed
in tie frame e. large ticket-"In prison
cor dobt"-and put it In deller's
window.
The next day. as friend of the notary
was passing the shop, lie Stopped for c
view Of the picture. Great heavens!
Five minutes afterwards he was in the
nctary's ofic,, four minutes later
the notary was before the lealer's
window, and in three minutes mora he
bounded in the artists studio.
"Sir r-r!" Kissed the notary. "Thero is
on exhibition ut this moment picture
which is making me The Laughing stccS OF
all Brussels. You will have the picture
removed instantly IN metliateis do goa
undelH'andf'
Il do not. There is :. picture Of mine
on exhibition, but really can not see what
earthly corc RI Of it is yours---"
"But, sir, i! is MY portrait"
You are in error sir. agreed to paint
your portrait for three thousand francs, ond
thinking to give you al agreeable surprise.
plinted it from memory. I thought the
picture rather q goo! cne, but you disa-
bnsed me Of my illusiou. end indeed ha, E
your written authority for declaring that
there is not the slightest resemblance to
you. The picture Was returned upon Icy
hands, and SO had 10 option but to on
deavor to dispose OF it..
Well" said the otaly, after q long
pause, rather than have any scandal about
it. l will stand to my bargain and tlke your
picture. Here are the three thousand
francs"
pardon me, retorted the artist. Il could
not think of parting with it for less than
fifteen thousand francs"
Fifteen thousand devils! Goo3.morn.
ing. sir!"
But Van Speck, n P. had rushed into
the street, and saw the crowd around ths
.tealer's window in the distance grown large1
turing his visit to the Artist, he i, fl cted
aud presently he returned to the studio.
Il have thought it over" he said, "and
have concluded to accept your offer,
will t.ke it at fifteen thousand francs"
Pardon me" said the artist. hut have
been thinking i. over, too, and !
have al idea. Tho picture has made sen.
,ation, and I think the more it is seen tht
greater tn 1t sensation will become. NV.
how do you ,hi k i: would take Il were t
leave it on show for another fortnight an'
then send it round Brussels ca porter's
:;act and get up popular lottery for the
;uci..,4 1T five francs ticket? I don
think should have any difficult of dispos
;rg OF six Thousand tickets, which woult
give me thirty thousand francs. Thirt,
thousand francs is the lowest price could
think OF accepting for my masterpiece, an1
the longer think over the lottery idea tn
1nOre-
With tears in his eyes the notary wrote
check for thirty thousand francs, twenty
! seven thousand francs of which the arts