Thomas County cat., 1888-06-14
Interesting Story Of Leaf from
a Girls Sketch Book.


well-known lawyer, upon matter of
importance. and learning that he was
detained at home by a sprained ankle.
went to his house, and was shown
into small library, where / found the
disabled attorney hard at work among
his papers.
1t was eviden: that the place was
not usually devoted to such business
The book-shelves showed little of the
conventional sheep-skin of lawyers
library. but were filled with a miscel-
laneous assortment of fiction, poetry,
history and school and college text
books In one corner of the room
stood a lady's work-basket; in another
a artists easel, with half-fnished
fruit-study upon it. while various
bits of art work in OIL crayon and pencil.
mostly without frames, were making
themselves at home in the place, some
hanging upon the walls, some standing
or lying about here and there.
Mr.. McQ.- laughingly alluded to
his unprofessional surrounding. and at
once proceeded to consider my busi-
ness.
When l rose to take my leave, an
hour or two later, l ventured to ask
an explanation of pencil-sketch
which had excited my curiosity II
appeared to be a leaf torn from an
artists sketch book. In the center
was the figure of man, roughly
dressed. lying at fulllength. face
downward, on a grassy bank. appar-
emily asleep. The left arm was thrown
up to support the head; the hat had
fallen off; the right arm lay stretched
upon the grass. with the clumsy hand,
minus half of the middle finger. turned
palm upward. The feet crossed each
other, "toeing in." and showed the
profile of one worn, old boot, and the
hcbnailed. sole of the other. Every
line in the figure, and even the very
wrinkles in the ill-fitting clothes. ex-
pressed the relaxation and unconscious
ness of a tired-out tramp asleep.
Elsewhere on the page were special
studies. on a larger scale. of the boots.
the hands and the head. Every touch
showed keennesS of observation, tidel-
ity to details, and knack of catching
the most striking and picturesque
points. The sketch of the head was
especially remarkable. The face was
entirely concealed by the bending left
arm on which it lay. The neck was
marked with those deep spiral seams
which are occasionally seen winding
around lank. wea,her-beaten neck.
making it look like section of the
twisted trunk of red cedar. The
hair on the back of the head lay in
rough. matted locks. among which was
visible white V-shaped scar more
than an inch in length.
Under the picture was written. in a
feminine hand: "Sleeping Innocence"
and under that. in a masculine hand:
Faithful in that which is least" In
one corner was little scratch of a
monogram. with date and memo
randum of the length of time spent
upon the sketch.
1.-The first title" explained Nh Nc
O.. ''refers to the subject of the
sketch; the SECOND to the artist"
''lt is then picture with his
tory?" said.
..Yes, and with a moral. too" he
replied. 1.-The sleeper was a client of
mine; in fact all things considered,
the most profitable one ever had.
The artist was the daughter of the late
!. DR.. Madison Evans and q pupil of
Jacques Renault the refugee. From
her father she inherited acuteness of
observation. and by him she was
taught to practice patient and pains
taking fidelity in whatever she under
took.
From old Jacques she got through
instruction, plenty of seedlings and an
enthusiasm for her work It came to
be matter of conscience with her 10
represent things with her pencil exact