The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-21
THE GODS AND ooDDRsSRs IN
 A FIX.
Rils.l

kt$2t n1SuEAA &utAlkyy, uuk nC was HUI So highly educated as he might have been. He knew very little about art or liteFa- ture, as his early education had been very much neglected. He made a great many irdicrcss errors, but he always managed to get out of his dilemmas gracefully, and to throw the laugh on the other party.
 The general owned a beautiful villa and grounds, and, on the occasion we are about to refer to, had deter mined to give a grand lawn party, to which the gov ernor and all the higher officers were in- vited. 1t was to be a splendid affair. He spared no expense in making it the event of the season. his idea being that it should eclipse in magpifcence and at fractions a similar entertainment which had been given by the governor a short time previous. All the preparations had been made, and most attractive pro- gramme of amusements was prepared, when 1t occurred to the general that his beautiful garden, or rather his elegant park, was destitute of statuary, while that of the governor was densely populated, 90 to speak, with the most popular statu- ary. A garden party without statuary was never to be thought Of. The general remembered that there was in one of his regiments a worthless vagabond named Zepher, who was gen. orally in the guard house, but who had wonderful talent for sculpture, he having carved a beautiful monument for the garden of colonel who had fallen in battle. The general ordered Zepher to report to him.
 "I hear that you are a sculptor. Now, 1 want you to sculp me lot Of gods and goddesses, Jupiter, Apollo, Venus, and all the rest of them, and have them on hand by eight o'clock sharp. next Satur- day evening""
 But, general, can't have them done by next Saturday. It will take months--" "Silence P thundered the general, "when order anything to be done, 1t has to be done. You have them staeuary done or I'll have you locked up for a month"
 "But, general"
 "Keep quiet How much do you need to buy plaster-of.PAris ?" Zepher looked at the general, and saw that he was in good earnest, so, after he had studied over the matter the sculptor replied:
 "All right, general, will do my best. will want hundred francs to buy plaster. of. Paris"
 "Here 1t is. Now get to work right away, and have them statuary by eigh, o'clock Saturday night, or you will wish you had never been born. Get 'em up in hne style, particularly Vents"
 That was the last the general saw of Zepher for several days, but he heard of his going from one bar-room to another, treating everybody, and having a good time of 1t generally, so he sent for the artist.
 "Whst is this 1 hear about you2 In- stead of sculpturing them gods you are going about filling your hide with wine, and raising disturbances.
 General" replied Zepher, humbly, CT am getting along finely. We artists have to get drunk to catch the inspiration. That's the way it is with all the great geniuses."
 "I have heard something about that," replied the general pensively, but be sure you don't overdo it, for them statues 1 have to be on hand"
 General, wish you would tell the guests not to touch the statsary, for 1t ruins fresh statuary to have 1t handled"
 "All right. will attend to that. Now go to your work" said the general, twist ing his moustache. Z.pher went. Saturday night arrived on time as usual. True to his word, Zepher had carried the statuary, wrapped in blankets, into an arbor in the garden. The pe- destals on which to place the figures had already been put in position. Z.pher, assisted by friend, unrolled the blankets from the life-sized plaster of Paris figures and carefully placed them on the pe- destals. Then he escorted the general through the garden, and showed him his works of art. They were, indeed, splen- did.
 "Ah, you are indeed an artist. That is glorious Jupiter and his thunderbolt. He looks for all the world like that big corporal of the Zouaves. He has the same large beard"
 He was my model" replied Zepher.
 "You have made a perfect image of him, but why do you cough so much ?"
 "l am nervous for fear this statuary may not please you"
 "Dismiss your fears. am well sats- fled. Here are hundred francs for you te spend with your friends"
 Zepher disappeared, and the delighted general soon re-appeared with the gov erpor and the other guests in the bril- liantly lighted garden. To say that they were astonished at the artistic skill dis played, is to use feeble word. The gov ernor was lost in admiration, and he can- didly stated that he could not boast of anything to compare with it. Jupiter, in particular, was much admired. Every body knew the gigantic Zouave corporal, with the big beard, and pronounced the figure very fine, although the ladies de- clared t was by no means as handsome as the Zouave who had been the model. All the other statues were wonderfully lifs-like, and the drapery excellent. Suddenly, the governor, who was ex- amining Jupiter, through his eyeglass,