Alpena weekly argus., 1888-02-15
A Picture Story.

A picture dealer in London told
me story which illustrated the igno'
rance of rich man in art matters
The story was told me as showing that
Englishmen could be quite as cute as
Americans when they set their minds
to it. l use it to illustrate another
point. The firm received Nelson
ier from Paris and it was to be put
on exhibition next day. 1t was fran
ed and set up on an easel in the shop,
and the price of it was to be 91 1900.
Through some error OH the part OF
the clerk, tag marked f100 was put
on the Meissonier, while the 91 800 tag
went on another picture. Before the
mistake was discovered and corrected,
an American bought the picture and
had it sent to his rooms at one Of the
big hotels. When the head of the
firm found that his Meissonier was
gone, and gone for e100, he nearly
raised the roof. He gave the clerk
who had made the mistake of the tags
and the clerk who sold the picture to
understand that if the picture was
not back by the next day he would
expect their sureties to make up the
deficiency. The young men were ap-
palled. One thousand four hundred
pound divided by two is still in ex'
cess of what the average young man
gets per annum in a London art store.
After abusing each other roundly for
awhile they hegan to notice that this
did not bring back the picture. The
clerk who put on the wrong tag final
ly hit on.a plan.
The clerk dressed up in his holiday
suit and called on the American.
81 am the art critic of the Daily
-" he said, "and l was told you
had bought Meissonier. Would
you mind my looking at it ?"
"Not at all, replied the buyer, and
he invited the alleged critic to his
rooms.
"Got that for e100," he said, wav'
ing his hand towards the picture.
The critic said nothing but a
cynical smile stole over his face.
Whats the matter? Don't you
believe 1 paid the G100f"
"Oh, believe you paid the f100."
"Well, you don't think it's worth
the money!"
"If it's Meissonier-yes."
"If? Why, the names on the corn
err"
"Yes, it usually is.
"But bought it from Frames &
Co. Aren't they a good firm ?"
"Oh, yes. If you have certifi-
cate from Frames & Co., signed by
the firm, that it is a genuine Nelson
ier then you have great bargain.
Still Meissoniers are not selling in
London this season for 9100."
81 haven't any certificate
"Ah"
"Don't you believe it's Nelson
ier? If you don't think it is, why,
hang it, say So"
"Now l won't say whether that is
a Meissonier or not, but / will tell
you what l would do if / were you.
| would take that picture back to
Frames & Co. ] would find the per-
son who sold it to me and would
say-quietly-I believe it is custom
airy to give certificate, signed by the
firm, signed by the firm, mind-that
it is what it is claimed to be- If the
young man doesn't remember you the
chances are that he will admit such
to be the custom. Then produce your
picture and say that you would be
obliged to have that certified Meis-
sonier. Don't be put off by his word
that it is so and so, or by any bluff
about the standing of the house, it's
reputation, and all that. Insist on
the document. If he refuses demand
your G100, and he refuses that, threat
en- suit, and l imagine you will get
your money"
That's business" said the Ameri-
can. "Come with me, will youi"
"Now," said the critic when they
were in the Hanson, II don't care to
appear in the matter, Frames is a
good fellow personally and always
claims that it is his rascally clerks
that make these little mistakes. I'll
stay in the hanson while you 60 in
side"
When Dives, with the picture un-
der his arm, came in and recognized
and was recognized by the clerk who
sold IL IN him the lottar hoca nola
with excitement and almost tainted
with the fear that he would not act
his part as well as the other fellow
had evidently acted his.
II see you know me" cried the pur-
chaser, land probably you know why
I've come back"
!. Haven't the slightest idea, pom
my soul l haven't" said the clerk
with his teeth chatterino.