Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-17
AN ARTISTS TRIALS.
The Reason of His Failure to Satisfy
Wealthy Country Customer,

The Reason of His Failure to Satisfy .
Wealthy Country Customer.
Speaking of cranks,'' said portrait
painter to New York Sun reporter, ''the
artist, believe, is the recipient of the at
tentions of more of the species than any
other profession. Not very long ago man
wrote me from country town, enclosing a
photograph and asking that painting be
made from it. He volunteered the pleasant
news that he had recently become engaged
to the handsomest girl in the district, and
that the girl wanted his picture. There
wasn't any thing slow about him, so he de-
termined to have portrait painted for her.
He requested me to make the mustache
longer than in the photograph, and the
cheeks just trif1e fuller.
at was cash order and filed it with
care. fattered myself that while / made
the changes requested, l had faithfully re-
tanned the expression of the photograph.
Nevertheless, the painting did not suit. The
man sent me back the photograph, and asked
me try to it over. He explained that his
girl didn't like it, He offered no other
hint of why the painting did not suit. was
conscious that had made an excellent like
ness; but nevertheless, bent on giving
satisfaction, made another copy with great
care. I Twas confident that this would suit
the most fastidious taste. But it appeared
not. Along came another letter ac
companied by the photograph, asking me to
try 1t over. The letter said: My girl
don't like it,
81 was vexed. wrote that the copy was
as perfect as brush and paint could make it,
that didn't care to paint except from the
original any way, and that l could not afford
to make three paintings for the price of one,
and didn't propose to do it. got prompt
reply. My country clisnt wrote that he was
rich and bound to please his girl. He said
to paint another at the same price and send
it along. He enclosed money and / laid
myself out on that portrait. was getting
tired Of the face. Soon after sent that on
got fourth letter with the same request.
1t didn't suit his girl. She said it didn't
look like him, and he was bound TO get a
picture for her that looked like him if he had
to mortgage his farm.
81 was enraged. / wrote him to come
down and see me. Two days afterward q
countryman came into the Office and asked
for me. When introduced myself he be-
gan to smlle in the most ridiculous manner
SO And who are youi' asked, wondering
what new kind of crank had struck.
"'Don't you know mel he asked.
"'Not from ADAM said I.
"'Why I'm Hezekiah Brown, whose pictur
you've been paintin.'
"'You, Mr.. Brown exclaimed, why
you don't look at all like your Photograph
"My photograph said he, why
that want my photograph. That was my
brothers. But then ma says we both look
'xactly like. Except that my moustache is
longer and my cheeks fuller l never had
no photograph made, so / sent you his'n an
told you how TO fix it. But say, now I'm
down here, you might as well paint one of
O. me, and see If for onct you can paint one
to suit the little gal
81 painted it, and have never heard from
him or his girl since. In stupidity the fe!-
low was only excelled by the countryrnau
who once sent me photograph Of the front
of his house, and wanted II painted into
fire picture. He casually added that there
was an elegant veran6ah round a. the back
Of the house that yoa couldn't see in the
photograph. lie wanted the copy made so
you could see that verandsh.m