The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-20
HIGH ART In BAR-ROOMS.
The Rich Display Made by New York
Saloon-Keepers for Their Patrons.
HUGH ]. Jewetts Life-Gossip of the Haut
MOnde-The Season Of the Playwright
Revival of Trade and Business.
Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
Art in the Bar-Room.

Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.
Art in the Darkroom.
New YORK, June 18-The acme of the bar
room picture craze has been reached. 1t began
years ago with colored engravings of the famous
runners and trotters. The next step was tinted
deEneations Of scenes in the Jardine Mabille and
Closerio de Lilas. Suddenly Ed Stokes burst
upon the horizon at the Hoffman cafe with his
ten-thousand-dollar Bougereau. Then Theodore
Stewart followed with his gallery in Warren
street And now Charles T. Wildey comes to
the front with painting which cost him, set
ting and all. $40, 900. Widely owns half dozen
bar-rooms in New York, all furnished in way
that recalls similar glories in San Francisco.
DE is a little blonde. blueeyed fellow. extremely
polished, and as quick as ferret Although
Less than year ago Widey bought out the old
Bodega, on the west side of Broadway, two doors
above Leonard street. He fitted it up in the
most gorgeous style, with circular bar of
birdss-eye maple. soft Turkey carpets, ormolu
chandeliers frescoed ceilings and wealth of brio
a-brac. Having laid this foundation. capped the
climax by going to Paris and buying Benjamin
Constants painting, lie Jugement du Cherif.
1t cost him $37, 600 in the Paris market, and it
has cost him S. 900 more for duties and mount.
ing. The picture is twenty five feet long and
sixteen feet high. The scene is laid in Spain at
the time of the Moorish occupation Having
reason to suspect infdelity in his scraglio and
unable to detect the guilty wife, Moorish prince
has had the gems of his harem bow-str1nged in
fit of jealousy. The picture represents the scene
after the work is done. The figures are nude
and of life size. The Andelusian blonde is
there, with the brunette of the basque provinces,
and the lily complexioned girl of Arragon. The
houri of Morocco and the ebon-chested beauty
Of Ethiopia are also stretched IN death Their
eorpses lie on the tesseated floor with the palor
of death on their faces. A gigantic black
executioner, with masked face, Is squat
ted on the right with assistants near
h!n. His hands are stained with blood,
for the dagger was used as we'll as the bloody
bow -string, and there great clots of blood
on the floor The sunlight glints across the
bodies, giving glow to the coloring and intensi-
flying the effect. The golden locks of the blonde,
the raven tresses of the brunette and the kinky
hair of the Ethiop give startling air of reality
put its finer features and illume the drapery in
the background.
The saloon is thronged from morning until
night A crowd is ever regarding the painting,
us ellScG ana USScaQtlnS upon It's merits
In whispered accents. The picture itself seems
to enforce silence. AS at the Hoffman House
and in Theodore Stewards, ladies with male
escorts frequently grace the scene with their
presence, and gaze at the canvas in Mortified
wonder Meantime an elegant free lunch is
spread, and the bar at the back does a rushing
business. Men sometimes surround it like a
brigade in hollowSquare, patiently awaiting their
turns 1t cost Wildey $50, 600 to fit up the place,
and he pays $l2, 600 year rent. His expenses.
6~,o1 s41t svfA HArs 2nwx =,
taking in from $500 to 500, according to the
"s ,.Ss anon;, this place. however, has had
NO narcantibie effect ON Theodore Stewards re-
oeipts. His gallery in Warr.n street attracts
crowds daily. The pictures here gre af'1 sue
without the feature of nudity. One o. Tar
game hanging on an old door. The light is go
perfect, and the rusted hinges, lock spd old hut
are SO exquisitely painted that slightly fuddled
visitors frequently bet that they are real
second gem by the same artist depicts violin
with such effect that strangers occasionally try
TO pick up the violin. Stewards receipts are
often more than $1,000 day.
An old freak in bar-rooms has been reyamped
by the brother Of Jacob Hess, we'll
known politician, on Broadway, near Houston
street The walls are hung with caricatures of
noted New Workers. from Joseph Howard. jr,
down to Stephen B. French. The illustrations
are marvellous ana attract much attention. The
Idea originated with the famed Jerry Thomas,
years ago. He bought mammoth caricatures
drawn by Thomas Mast for Max Maretzek's bald
opera in Madison square Garden, and made
fortune by hanging them on tie walls of his bar
room. Horse races and faro banks proved too
much for him. however, and he dropped into the
pit of poverty. His collection was sold at auc-
ton. Isaac w. England bought tho circuations
of the great editors. and they are to be found to-
day, covered with the dust of years in the Sun
composing rooms.
Apropos of paintings. it is a fact that Mrs. A.
7. Stewart has closed her gallery to visitors
Intimate friends alone are now admitted to see
Meissoniers masterpiece and other great paint
ings. Formerly any respectable person could
sair admittance by sending for card. An at
tendont Vas always at hand to point out the
gems of the collection. One day, however, a
party Of curious women, who had gained en-
trance by Mrs. Stewards courtesy, slipped out
Of the gallery unseen by the attendant. and be-
gan to explore the house. They actually found
their way into Mrs. Stewards private apart
xnents and stood for some minutes gazing at the
old lady, and commenting audibly on her per-
sonal appearance. This was too much. The
widow of the princely merchant put her foot
down, and from that day to this the doors of her
great gallery have been shut to visitors. In view
If the closing of the Vanderbilt gallery since the
death of VIM. H., this must be regarded as q
public calamity. Magnificent pictures can yet
be seen at the Lennox Library and the rooms of
the New York Historical Society Coles four
pictures of The Voyage of Life" John Wander
lyn's sAriadne," and pictures by other old
American painters can be found at the latter
place. ZIsKA.
Wall-Sireet "Reminiscences.
New YORK, June 1s-The bulls of Wall street
would be delighted to have the Chicago & Allan
q