New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-23
STRETCHING WITH A HOT POKER.
A NOVELTY IN ART wORK-wHAT A WHIMSICAL
BOSTON GENIUS ACCOMPLISHED

A NOVELTY IN ART woRK-wHAT A WHIMSICAL
BOSTON GENIUS ACCOMPLISHED.
ain 1857 said Fifth Avenue art dealer to
TRr, reporter "therc lived in the city Of Boston
worthless yagabond named Haden, a man who had
seen better days lie an artist-had wonderful
talent during his periodical sprees woaa deNoee
himself assiduously his peculiar work, though he was
never known to do anything while sober wealthy
banker who had known him in his younger years anu
knew of genius would indulge him III the prosecution
of his work and aided him in many other ways de was
also ac1ualned with Hadens peculiares and knew the
lt OF application never over him when sooer'
Indeed on several occasions he had so far as to reat
HIN TO n drink IN order to get him to wo X Holdehs
portraits the best specimen OF his art ana they were
marves OF correctness They generally burned on
thin board of brds-eye maple with red-hot oker OF
the ordinary shape which they received two coats
Of varuish which put to preserve them ana set
IN depp heavy frames. He callel them Poker
Sketches and back "f each was burned TINS IN
scrlption: This sketch burned with Poker
Hadcn, Sc7iDsh'
His ikenesses striking, and the three Of them
existence. although executed from memory are
perfect In every respect. He had seen WeDster ohy
once in his life but the portrait which he burned with
his hot poker pronounced one OF the truet ike
nesses ever OF the great statesman WEBSTER
strong features and dark complexion admirably suited
the the work, whitn has peculiar brown
appearance when finished lls picture OF Oiay n o"ne"
by his banker friend also once owned the other two
bet presented them to some southern friends one Oh
tbcm shakespeare il In the possession OF Francis Fon-
taine Commissioner VI Emigration OF Georgia "eoser
was presented humorous writer OF the same state
and now hangs his parOr object OF wonder anu ao
miration 10 visitors.
poker sketches are durable and will for centuries.
In doing them il is literally Of bum while the
iron ia hot One ndstouch OF the poker ruins the Doard
there ia no erasuIe. wiping Out Dohid 80 spolen
the only remedy TO begin on another ana 90 ho ""
thing over again. aoio,,
n A. WONDERFUL TO see the variety OF sha les and coors
winch NAV be pfUduced BY this burning proce Acr
the application of the varnsh it NOR teseipes OIL
than anything Else. and the decelhlon u 80
that touch of tue Duger Is IL luileu 70 remove ~
inlentures be plainly iet with The hah1. ~ ay
seem strange that this art has never de'eIope' ou
rohv therc are few people who would care TO s over
firr-po all day and continually suner from purheu
fners Tor sae OF art alone But ia TINS age ol
civ and invention. the continual desire LOT sBhe'
new il is To be wondered that no one has ever oeen
able to approach Halden IN MS peculiar hft n 'T
have tired n, however, hnd win Iaf sueGess ~
Miles, tine Cincinnati theatrical manager has
John Mccullough OhefiO which has been prOnouceu
excellent By those who have seen IL ~ Yves
by young man ana bears alhtc uate' 1897 anu D"N
by a poker on it's back "a .. ,,.oaoa
skefchine and picture OF log cabin, with SURROUNDING
Eoods and stream In the foreground. win brie anu
there an ANNUAL OF some kind has been eAulutSd l'o
prture compares favOraby with the aVcrlSc crh'oI
work. ami ills colors are Tar richer anu the shuh To
deep and full There Is no reason why uIins %
army crdyon artists should not take up ms
skrtching aud realize sometime lron ~ j. = % N
unique aud attractive The only materials ieqle na
be had al an insignificant outlay Ihey consist Oh w.
thin boards about one-eghth OF an luch thck hepo.
Ia burn charcoal heating the poker anu hlnVo y
niece nj iron bcnt TO prorer shape bottle OF goou
copa yarnlsh and brush complete Tue ouln pnu 20,
eve maple best wood TO use because II hhs 20
grain 10 caise the poker Ia Jump ana burn riegulai!
itb this outfit little talent ana little patience oho
can soon learn 20 make a Poker Sketch"