Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-03-17
AN ARTISTS JOKE.
Rarity of Large:sized PIER Glasses a Cen.
tury Ago.
AN APPARENT DISASTER WHICH
CAUSED UNUSUAL EXCITEMENT.

CAUSED UNUSUAL EXCITEMENT.
Among the artists of celebrity be
longing to London in the last cen
tury was Biachio Rebecca, who was
famous for his eecentricity and tricks
of deception in painting. He was a
great favorite with the king, and
many amusing anecdotes are extant
concerning him; he was indeed kind
of modern court Jester. One of his
tricks at the palace, as it concerned q
piece of furniture, may interest the
reader.
In one of the public apartments at
Windsor two pier glasses, of dimen-
sions then regarded as extraordinary
being the largest that up to that time
had been cast in any British factory
had been newly put up. To all the
male and female domestics who oc.
casionaliy were appointed to show the
state apartments solemn injunctions
had been given to be specially careful
in guarding them from the remotest
chance of injury, SO much were they
thought of and so highly were they
valued.
Just before these rooms were
opened, on one of the mornings ap-
pointed for the admission of the pub
lie, then specially attracted by the
fame of these wonderful pier glasses
Rebecca by stealth obtained admis-
sion to them, and, taking wax
candle, drew on each an artificial
fracture, beginning from the center
of each, and throwing out radiating
lines with the most realistic effect.
The chief Snowman, whose appoint
ment was Immediately under the lady
housekeeper, entering, ,er-oticio, short
ly after, to see that all was in order
caught sight of the supposed fracture
and uttered q cry of horror and dis
may which at once brought the house
maids from the adjoining rooms
where they had been busy with theil
busters and brooms.
(Which of you devils did this?'
cried he savagely, pointing to the
pier-glass which had first attracted
his attention.
The women stared at the supposed
damage, dumb with fright.
Now, it's no use denying it! What
the devil could you have been at
What will Lady -- say, do you
think, when she sees it?'
LA! how shocking" exclaimed one
''Oh. how unfortunate" cried an
other; and then in breath they all
cried out Indignantly, "You can't lay
| it to me, remember"
A fiery scene ensued, in the midst
of which loud scream burst forth
and a female voice crying, why
the others broken, toop'
I'VE shall all be discharged for GER
tain" cried one maid, wiping he1
tears away with the duster, and
"That's fiat" echoed another dismal
voice.
They all stood pale as death, when
10! his majesty entered from the
queens staircase.
The chief showman's tongue clave
to the roof of his mouth, and the
maidens looked to the ground, trem
bling and speechless. At length the
former advanced, bowed, twisted his
hands together like one in agony
and, gasping, pointed in true tragedy
style first to the glass at one end OF
the room and then to that at the
other.
His majesty looked at one, then al
the other, frowned, said nothing, and
hurriedly left the room.
The news of the calamity spread
through the royal establishment like
wildfre; the very walls had tongues
The smash reached the ears OF the
lady housekeeper, who was at hel
toilet; aghast, she left her mirror, and
hurried to the wreck of the mighty
mirrors of majesty. Her grief and
horror were terrible to witness, and
she hurried to the queen.
Directly after her departure, IN
stole the prankish painter, and with
a damp sponge and dry dolly nc
wiped the awful fractures clean out
Presently, in solemn conc!ave me,
the king, the queen, and the roya
family, the lady housekeeper, the
lords in waiting, the equerries ano
the pages, all anxious to witness the
fearful fractures; one of the latter
an ancient one-declaring in whls
Der that in all his "born days. unit
that present blessed moment" he
had ''never heard of such thing"
But who shall describe the aston
ishment of the group of great one'
when, all being prepared for condol
ing comments and exclamation
suited to the tragic nature of such
strange occurrence-lo! each Of the
magnificent plates of glass was founf
whole!
Such is the story told by contem
porary personages OF the two hrs r.,
really large sheets OF plate-giass sii
vered in Great Britain.