Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-12-03
MONEY IN A BLACK EYE.
HOW AN ARTIST IN CHICAGO SAYS
HE MAKES A LIVING.

Painting Damaged Optics Instead Of Land
scapes-A Remedy That II Better Than
Raw Beefsteak for the Fellows Who
Run Against Doors.
"Beats your raw beefsteak all hollow!n
said man in gruf voice and loud neck
tie to his neighbor in a Lincoln avenue car
"Wen, will it make it possible for me to
run around in the street with this thing of"
pointing to black bandage over his left
eye-'and yet look respectableF'
"Bet cherlife-I been there-know how it
feels myself"
This last assertion did not seem to afford tho
man with the black bulge over his eye any
alarming amount of satisfaction. But he
took the address Of an artist highly recon-
mepded by the gruf voice. which sounded as
if it belonged to professional bruiser, Just the
same. 1t was the old story-hit his eye
against the door in the dark, and couldn't get
anybody to belisve him. So he finished his
ride and got of the car as soon as it had
emerged from the tunnel He found the
address furnished him without much trouble
1t was in a basement On Randolph street,
almost within q stones throw of the court
house and next to Chinese laundry.
HOW HE BEGAN.
Eyes, said the black eye artist, very seri-
ously, sit is rather queer trade to follow.
You see, I'm really a landscape painter by
profession. But when / struck Chicago q
year ago, out of pocket and without anybody
to say good word for me, found that there
wasn't much landscape to paint here anyway,
and for another thing soon became aware
that what landscape there was had been col
Jared by other painters, who held sort Of
first lien on it, so to speak. Anyway, there
was nothing for me to do, and soon got
down at the heel. One day. while in the
Sherman house, fellow raised row and
gave the man who stood next to him bat in
the eye. The man who got slugged, re-
spectacle fellow, apparently, neatly dressed,
felt awfully mortified at his black eye.
What in thunder shall dog he said Il am
a solicitor, and have got to hustle around
ON the street and in the Offices of business men
every day Of my life l can't show myself
the way I am Come with me- / said, III
soon fix you out all right
"And | took him to the studio of an &C
quaintance over on State street, borrowed a
little bit of sienna, some white lead and drop
of cnnabar, mixed it to suit the mans
natural complexion, and then I put it on
pretty thick under the eye. That made him
look like his own self, excepting trifle baggy
near the nose. The man was delighted. L
told him to come back next morning and have
a new layer put on, and l thus treated him
with oil paint for week. He paid me s.,
which Just made me solid for a week with my
boarding house friend, and I've stuck to the
calling Of Black Eye Artist ever since. My
first patient the solicitor, brought me lots
of custom He sent all his business friends
and acquaintance to me- whenever they
happened to have discolored optic, and they
in turn spread the glad tidings and thus I've
made comfortable living ever since-more,
at least, than ever made at landscape paint
ing"
THE WAY IT rs DONE.
Here the artist interrupted his flow Of Ian
guage for moment to attend to the optical
needs of his patient" He used palette and
score of little oil paint tubes, Just like the
other brethren OF his craft, and he skillfully
and quickly prepared his mixture, keeping
the face exposed to the light, and comparing
notes with it a few times Then he began to
paint At first he laid on q sub-coating of
color about the hue of sunset in fog. Then,
as that had dried, he began to rub in the
light brown and paint and he varied the
shades SO as to correspond exactly with the
original subson beneath. 1t was a highly
creditab,e effort, worthy of the brush OF
Michael Angelo, and with fidelity to nature
which was truly amazing. After he had put
on the finishing touches he put the mans hat
on so THAT its shadow cast the mourning eye
into additional gloom, and thus attired the
patient looked just as lie he'd before he ran
against that door In the dark.
Fifty cents, please!" he said, and his pa
tent gave him the money with great haste
remarking that IL was very reasonable
charge Then the artist cautioned him
Don't smile any more than you have to, )" be
said, in a warning voice, and above all, don't
laugh The paint as it dries slightly con-
tracts the skin. and it viii peel of in little
layers if you laugh. Come back tomorrow
or the day after, If you find i. necessary, and
I'll touch it up again But guess 1t won't
be necessary, provided, Of course, you don't
wash the paint off You mustn't put any
soap or water near the eye, and IL IL begins
to itch you mustn't scratch. That's all
ia tal"
And the patient left, slightly muddled be-
cause of this glitter!ug array CT instructions.
Then this first coat OF paint won't stay on
until the eye assumes its normal color again T.
0ueried the reporter.
NO, Of course not,n answered the artist,
with chuckle That's how increase ny
revenues. II I had TO live Just On the first
coat of paint I'd have taken 70 something
else long ago. But it generally takes two Or
three renewals before l get through with a
patient, and that's how &c: IN my work and
nv dollars You see. the average duration
Of black eye Is almost ten days With SOMA
men it lasts over fortnight, with some only
q week. In any case / make from sl-so 70
s. out of every black eye that's brought 70
me"
"How many Is that Year,
Let's seel / never kept tab on them eI-
actly, but can tell pretty nsarly from ny
earnings The last six months e, since
got ny trade fairly estabiiShsd-rve taken in
al average Ct 81 Per day. Tha. means SIX
teen black eyes, a. therase Of fifty cents eace-
rs funny, though. 20 listen 70 the erpl2na-
tons rnen maze vixen they cone in here "
course, it's al tEe same 70 E.a A black eys
* block ere 10 ne Il means money, aid
never stop 70 inquire ito "a aateoedeats.
Chicago Esraid