Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1888-11-10
CHAPTER III.

The appointed day arrived on which the
vases were to be exhibited. The kings
promise and offer were not limited to Sophie,
and some rivalry existed among the artists
In the royal factory.
During the month Iazinka had visited the
workshop repeatedly to inspect progress, and
he was confident In the success OF his fair
protege. The vase stood eighteen inches high
without Its cover; ii was gracefully shaped.
Sophie had herself skstched its outline 1t
was painted deep purple blue, Of the most
superb richness, over which rococco orna-
ments in gold, part dull. part FURNISHED,
were etched with extraordinary ease and
delicaY. On each side wss space where
the white porcelain showed, and ion the one
side which was to be the back was q beauti-
fully painted view Of Potsdam, and on the
other, the front, was Frederick the Great
seated on his charger, waving his sword,
wearing his cooked hat and coat Of dark blue
with cuffs and lining Of scarlet. His waist
coat was yellow. He wore high boots, and
on his breast q star. In the rear were the
Prussian soldiers charging, and the smoke Of
battle. Beneath the picture was q scroll on
which was inscribed,
"a ieternelle gloire de Frederic le grand"
The vases had been brought to the palace
at Potsdam, and were unpacked and placed
on shelves for exhibition by the sub-director,
Hirsch.
Hirsch was not pleasant man; he was O
Jew, and be had caused Sophie much an
noyance by his attentions He scowled at the
young count whenever he entered the fac
tory, and Lazi4ka had once remarked on his
Ill humor to Sophie, without in the least
guessing the occasion for it,
When the king and the company he had
invited to attend him came into the gallery
where the porcelain was on show, Hirsch
and Wegeli were present, as were also the ex-
aibit1rS standing q. s,t;caP rssPectful distance
shown him, but was specially struck with
that painted by Sophie.
"Reren said he, "Hirsch, fetch me that
down, give me that vase. 1t is as good as
any turned out Of the Saxon factory. Here
Majesty said Hirsch, II fly to obey"
But instead Of Immediately doing what the
king commanded, Hirsch proceeded to draw
silk handkerchief from his pocket, and to
dPardon your majesty" he said, "before I
offer 1t into your august hands Some dust
has settled on it. So many persons arein the
gallery"
Come, come, never mind the dust; I like
But Hirsch wiped and rewiped the vase,
and then, with profound bow, handed it to
Frederick was pleased at the shape Of the
piece, and the graceful sweep Of the handles
TIT Is good, Classical" he said. "There I
am" he laughed. "That, ! suppose, is in
tended for me at Mollnitz. think recog-
nize the Notifications. Butt never went
into battle SO snug and smart as that; and
whoever painted this has forgotten the
smears Of snuff that adorn my gracious nose.
/ ask any Of my officers il ever wore cloth
with the gloss on 1t given me by the glazo on
this porcelainf have not SO dapper q coat
In my wardrobe; and my boots-Heini at
Mollnitz-were splashed. 1t was a muddy
dayl What is this inscription To the eter-
nal glory-Ah, there Is dust, or smudge, or
something there. Take the vase, Hirsch,
wipe it again, and hand 1t to me once more"
Sophie's beautifully printed piece, and now,
kneeling at the kings feet, he proceeded 10
rub, and rub hard at one portion Of the sur
face. As he did so he cast q malignant
glance at the count.
Sophie was surprised, and looked at Count
Lazinka, who stood behind his majesty
THAT is all right; that will do" said the
king Now give me the vase once moren
He held il up before his eyes, and studied
Then, suddenly, his face changed; his cheeks
dyed themselves crimson, and his eye flashed
fire.
"Who painted this vaser he shouted In
voice Of thunder.
"Sire,n said Lazinka, sit was designed and
drawn entirely by the Demoiselle Mansfield"
"And she painted the inscription to the
eternal memory Of Frederick the Great, chr
"Your majesty said Lazinka, again bow
ing and coloring, must admit an indiscre-
tion. II was who wrote that inscription in
TIE aspQissus b ipaaiTa Afie ths psagrsS