The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1888-01-13


subscription list now. What do you
say to putting our names down for 600
apiece?'
There was a chorus Of disaprroval. |
You misunderstood me, !" continued |
the baronet, Il did not say give ESQ. |
don't mean to subscribe more than |
95 myself. but ESQ will look well in
the papers. at the top of the list, don't
you seeP"
II think l follow You, Sir James
said Mr. Fawning There are eight |
of us here. If we each put our names
down for ESQ, that will make a good
start towards EI,000. OF course, our
actual payments must be optional. "
Precisely" replied the baronet
''And / see that our worthy friend, Mr.
Savile-Moss, is not present; he is GER
tain to contribute at least E100. And
now, having arranged this, think,
gentleman, we may adjourn. Mr..
Fawning will draw up some circulars
and see that the first subscription list
is advertised. Perhaps a systematic
discuss that later. -
So the meeting broke up, and Mr..
Fawning proceeded to carry out his
Instructions The Mr. Joseph Savile-
Moss to whom Sir James referred was
a gentleman who had recently bought
big house and a fair-sized estate in
the neighborhood of Marlborough. He
was of undoubtedly Hebraic appear
ance, and not too refined in his manners,
but then he was a Tory, had plenty of
money, and did not mind spending a
certain amount of it, all of which things
did great deal to counterfeit the re-
ports which had somehow been cir
culated that his real name was Joseph
Samuel Moses, and his business that of
mOney-lending. In fact, Mr.. Savile-
Moss had been such an energetic sup
porter of Lord Vcrjuice at the recent
election and had aided so materially in
providing the sinews of war that the
local Tories felt compelled to patrOnize
him socially, and even to have him
elected n councillor of the Marlborough
Habitation. Sir James had, therefore,
some reason for his confidence about
Mr.. SaviIe-Moss' liber atty in the
matter of the testimonial, and he lost no
ascertain how much he could be bled
for. But the occasion was trifle un-
lucky. Mr. Savile-Moss had been to
London, and as fortune would have it,
he had met Lady Grewsum face to face
in the park. Her ladyship had cut him,
for it was one thing to tolerate the
worthy jew in the country, but quite
another to bow to him in town, and
Mr.. Savile-Moss felt very much ag-
! grieved. Sir James was, in fact, COM
PEELED to ask him to dinner before he
could obtain promise of a subscrip-
ton, and even then Mr.. Savile-Moss
would only undertake to give 9100 on
! condition that the total sum raised by
the knights and DANES of the Null
borough Habitation amounted to at
! least E500.
! This was not very encouraging, but
| Mr. Fawning and his colleagues deter
mined to leave not Il stone unturned to
screw every possible copper out of the
| farmers, laborers and artizans of the
district.
Six weeks were spent in this arduOus
task; every cottage for miles round had
been personally visited by some mem
Der of the special committee. There
was not a travelling tinker or tramp of
4 any sort who had not been dunned for
penny; there was not a household in
the neighborhood whose head did not
loathe the very name of Lady Grewsum,
and vet the result of all this hard
work was that, including 60 apiece
from the councillors and deducting
expenses of advertising and printing,
only sum of E131 13s. 3D., re-
manned to be devoted to the pur.
poses of the fund. A special meet
ing of the council was promptly called,
and this time Mr.. Savile-MOss put in
an appearance.
at is quite obvious" said Sir jaime.
Shircutt, that we can not buy a thou
sand-guinea portrait for 9131 19s. Sd
and l should be glad, gentlemen, tc
hear what You propose.
The apathy of the people is de
plorable," sighed DR.. Sopely.
1T is worse" said Mr.. Fawning; i
is most damaging to the reputation OF
the league"
Very true" said Mr.. Rodent, ''bu
YOU can't get blood from a stone"
Mr.. Savile-Moss had, as yet, sait
nothing, He seemed to be lost il
thought though he occasionally sur
veyed the meeting with a cynical grin
which showed that he was alive to tn,
proceedings.
Perhaps MIR. Moss can sugges
something" said the chairman.
yes. l think l have an idea," re
piled that worthy, and all eyes were a
once turned upon him.
You see," he continued, "thingi
are precious bad with artists just now
l suppose you think that many of then
get G1 900 for a portrait9 Not they
Half of it goes in commissions an,
, what not. Now, there's a friend o
, mine an r. A.. mind YOU, who woul,
be pleased to do the thing for E200
so long as we ali kept it dark, ant
- swore we had paid him f1,O0O"
I you don't say so!' interposed 81
James.
4 Il do, indeed, continued the worth,
Moss.
= He is a good man, too. Why.whel
( II mean friend of mine-vas in tn
2 old-master line, he'd turn out VA
g Dyck's.' 'Reyuoldses' and 'Gainsb Dor
{ oughs by the dozen for ESQ apiece, an,
I'm blest if I don't think they wer
r better than if the old chaps had actu
= ally painted 'em. Only there's on
difficulty, we must give him a chez
a for Il. 600 +"
f "Why?" queued Mr. Doubleton.
e "Why?' echoed Mr.. Moss. with som
Y contempt, because there II be a put