Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-06-21
ART IN THE BAR ROOMS.
Scenes in Some of the Gilded Met
ropolitan PALACES of Bacchus.

ropolitan PALACES of Bacchus.
New YORK, June l9.-The acme OF the
barroom picture craze has been reached.
1t began years ago with colored engray-
ings Of the famous runners and trotters.
The next sep was tinted delineatiOns Of
scenes in the Jardin Mabllle and Closerie
de Lilas. Suddenly Ed Stokes burst upon
the horizon at the Hoffman cafe with his
$4,000 Bougereau. Then Theodore Stew
art followed with his gallery in Warren
street. And now Charles f. WIldey
comes to the front with a painting which
cost him. setting and all, $i2, 900. Wildey
owns half dozen barrooms IN New York,
all furnished in a way that recalls similar
glories in san Francisco. He is little
blonde blue-eyed fellow, extremely pol
ished, and as quick as ferret. Although
not bald he Invariably wears a silk skull
cap. Less than year ago Wildey bought
out the old Bodega, ON the west side OF
Broadway, two doors above Leonard
street. He fitted 1t up In the most gor-
geOus style, with circular bar OF birds
eye maple, soft Turkey carpets, OrmOlu
chandeliers, fresc0ed ceilings, and
wealth OF bric-a-brac. Having laic1~this
foundation he capped the climaxDy going
TO Paris and buying Benjamin Constants
painting lie Judgment du Cherif." 1t
cost him $37, 900 in the Paris market, and
it has cost him ST., 5,000 more tor duties and
mounting. The picture is % feet long
and l6 feet high. The scene is laid in
Spain at the time of the Moorish occupa-
tion. Having reason 10 susp 3ot intidellty
in bis seragli0 and unable TO detect the
guilty wife, Moorish prince has had the
gems OF his haram boW-strif ged in a ft of
jealousy. The picture represents the
scene after the work is done The figures
are nude and OF life size. The Andalus-
ian blonde is there, with the brunette of
the Basque provinces, and the llly-cOm-
pleXiOned girl of ArragOn. The hOuri of
Morocco and the ebOn- -chested beauty of
Ethiopia are also stretched in death.
Their corpses lie on the tesselated floor
with the pallOr of death on their faces
A gigantic black eXecutOner with mask
ed face is sQuatted on the right with as
sstants near him. His hands are stained
with blood, for the dagger was used as
well as the bloody bOw-string, and there
are great clOts OF blood on the floor The
sunlight glints across the bodies, giving a
glow TO the c0lOring and intensiiying the
effect. The golden locks of the blonde,
the raven tresses of the brunette and the
kinky hair OF the BthiOp give a startling
air of reality to the picture. Nests OF
electric lights bring out its finer features,
and illumine the drapery in the back
ground.
The saloon is thrOnged from morning
until night. A crowd is ever regarding
the painting, studying its effect, and des-
canting upon its merits in whispered ac-
cents. The picture itself seems TO enforce
silence. AS at the Hoffman House and in
Theodore Stewards, ladies with male es-
corts frequently grace the scene with
their presence, and gaze at the canvas in
hOrri6ed wonder. Meantime an elegant
free lunch is spread, and the bar at the
back does rushing business. Men some
times surround it like brigade in hoI-
low square patiently awaiting their turns,
1t cost Wildey $4,000 to fit UP the place,
and ne pays $l2,O 900 a year rent. His ex-
penses, including interest, are about $500
day. He is taking in from $500 to $70O.
according TO the weather and the season.
The opening Of this place, however, has
had no perceptibla effect on Theodore
Stewart'a receipts. The gallery in War
rem street attracts crowds daily. The
pictures here are artistic, without the
feature of nudity. One Of lIaTnetps, entl-
tied "After the Hunt" represents game
hanging on an old door. The light is so
perfect, and the rusted hinges, lock and
old hut are so eXquisitely painted that
slightly 'fuddled visitors frequently bet
that they are real. A second gem by the
same artist depicts violin and sheets of
wOrm-eaten music on table, with such
effect that strangers occasionally try to
pick up the violin. Stewards receipts
are often more than 81 900 a day.
An Old freak in barrOoms has been re-
vived by the brother of Jacob Hess,
well known politician. on Broadway near
Houston street. The walls are hung with
caricatures Of noted New Yorkers from
Joseph Howard, Jr., down TO Stephen b.
French. The illustrations are marvel
Gus, and 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 ballad opera in Madison
Square Garden, and made a fortune by
hanging them on the walls Of his barroom
Horse races and faro banks proved too
much for him, however, and be dropped
into the PIT of poverty. His collection
was sold at auction. Isaac W. England
bought the simulatiOns of the great edi-
tors, and they are to be found to-day COW
cred with tne dust Of years in the sun
composing rooms.
AprOpOs OF paintings, 10 is a fact that
Mrs. A. Il. Stewart has closed her gallery
TO visitors. Ultimate friends alone are
now admitted TO see GeissOnier's MASTER
piece and other great paintings. Former
ly any respectable person could gam ad-
mittance by sending for a card. An at
tendant was always on hand to point out
the gems of the collection. one day, how
ever, a party OF curious women, who mad
gained entrance by Mrs. Stewards cOur-
tesy, slipped out Of the gallery unseen by
the attendant and began to explore the
house. They actually found their way
into Mrs. Stewards private apartments,
aud stood for some minutes gazing at the
old lady and commenting audibly on her
personal appearance. This was too much.
fbe widow Of the princely merchant put
her foot down, and from that day 10 this
the doors OF her great gallery have been
shut 20 visitors. In view Of the closing OF
the Vanderbilt gallery since the death OF
william H., this must be regarded as a
public calamity. Magnificent pictures
can yet be seen at the LenOX Library AID
the rooms or the New York Historical So
ciety. Coles four pictures OF the "The
Voyage OF LIFE" John Vanderlyn's
"Ariadne," and pictures by other old
American painters can be found AZ the
latter place. ZIsKA.
Burning OF the Dredpc.