Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-03-09


Hello, SUNDAY UNION, what's new TO-
day?'
Don't hear much. What do you
know ?r
"NutLin', replied the speaker, who, by
the way, was we'll known local attorney.
The reporter took seat by him after
dropping his nickel in the slot, and conyer-
sation became general.
"Oh, say, now that come to think of
it" suddenly said the lawyer, there was
something that occurred out in the neigh
borhood where 1 live, last week, which
would make good item for you. It's a
wonder that the thing has not got into the
papers before"
well, let's have it," and the newspaper
man reached for the ever ready note book.
"Well, as l said before, it was last week.
was stretched out On a sofa at home one
day when the door-bell rang. Ny wife
went to the door, and two young gentle
men introduced themselves as agents for
certain ladies' magazine, the subscription
price of which is, and has been for years,
81 per year. Well, these fellows showed
their alleged credentials and said they
were authorized 10 take subscriptions
at the rate OF 81 per year. My wife bit,
and now che is dollar out l knew that
it was a rob as soon as she told me about
it, but, fortuuately..for the alleged agents,
she did not inform me of her bargain until
several hours after she had subscribed.
But this was not all. A few nights ago my
wife and | attended social gathering at
friends house, and during the evening
told about this subscription business to the
company as sort of joke on my better
half. When had finished l expected to
hear everybody laugh, but to my discom-
future this was not the case. Some of the
gentlemen did laugh, but not one of the
ladies. Why? For the very reason that
every one of them had bitten at the same
thing, and had learned from me for the
first time that they were swindled. And
say, never saw madder lot of ladies in
all my life. Oh, it is quite scheme, and
I've no doubt those fellows made lots of
money out of it."
Haven't the police been informed?"
asked the reporter.
mot unless some other victim has told
them. I've been intending to ever since it
happened, but somehow have neglected
it."
George Bodewig, the popular crayon and
pastel artist of San Francisco, who carried
off the first prize at the last State Fair, was
IN Sacramento few days ago, attending to
some private business.
A reporter caught him on the J-street
cars one afternoon during his stay, and
naturally art and artists were the subjects
discussed.
ARTISTS are looked upon the world over
as cranks," said Bodewig, in the course of
the conversation, land I've no doubt there
is considerable foundation for the belief,
that is, If you strike an average. l suppose
lots of people think I'm crazy, too; but,
then, as long as | don't think so myself,
why, guess it's all right. But have met
an awful lot of strange beings in my ram
blings among the artists of this country
and Europe, and l could tell you stories of
them by the yard. Blythe way, | was
rummaging through an old portfolio the
other day, and found little painting on
a piece of abalone shell, which was pre-
sented to me years ago in Europe by Jules
Tayernier. Everybody out here on the Pa
cific coast knows who Tavernier Yas-he
spent several years of his life in San Fran
cisco and vicinity, and, in fact, died there.
Now, there was a man that l have
alHays considered one of the great
est painters of the nineteenth century.
though he didn't get the credit of it-and
he was as erratic q man as ever lived.
Many a time thought he was fit subject
for an asylum. He was wild, ungovern-
able and passionate, but true as friend
and magnifcently heroic. A history of
that mans life, his adventures, struggles
and disappointments, would fill big vol
ume of most interesting and romantic
reading. He was once central figure at
the Beaux Arts in Paris, when that place
was filled with great men. He made his
first big hit, however, while at the studio
of the great Barrias. when he painted
the famous Minstrel Singers He was a
leading spirit in the French revolution.
and during the Franco Prussian war bis
reckless daring was the talk of everybody.
Returned to Paris, he went into the Com
mune, and was foremost In many OF the
street battles. He was twice arrested and
once condemned to death, but by combi-
nation OF bravery and shrewdness he made
his escape TO England. Shortly after this
he turned up in America, and his mad
pranks soon made him conspicuous.
:" He came out West early in the seven
ties to illustrate Indian life for New York
weekly publication. The erratic artist
went right into the heart of the Sioux na-
ton and got on intimate terms with Sitting
Bull. Rain-in the-Face and other Sioux
notables. In this wild place be did some
of his best work, and was looked upon by
the Indians as a sort of supernatural beingn
when did he land in San Francisco ?"
asked the reporter.
ut was about 1880, think" replied
Bodewig, "and he landed there dead broke,
as usual. He had harder time in San
Francisco than any place else, 1 think, and
at times was absolutely in need of the
necessaries of life. When he had money
he knew not its value and wasted it reck-
lessly. l recollect well when he was in
partnership with Julian Rix; that both,
through Tavernier's reckless prodigality,
were absolutely poverty-stricken. They
had Just finished picture for which they
were to receive several hundred dollars.
Tevernier collected the bill, but before he
got home had spent it all for supply of
books, wines, cigars, etc., for their stndio.
They owed every body. and an attachment
was placed OIL the studio the next day.
This did not bother Tavernier, but poor
Rix was almost distracted. The studio had
large skylight in the roof, and while
SheriffS lock was on the door and
keeper was guarding the entrance, Tsver-
nier mounted the roof and, with the assist
ance of a boy and rope. cleared the studio
of everything of value. Oh, could tell
you hundred and one anecdotes of that
crazy Frenchman's escapades, but must
get off here. SO we'll postpone further dis
cussion of the subject. Good day.
mo, there's nothing particularly OF in
terest going on il our business" said one
of the operators employed at the Western
Union office yesterday to the reporter who
"buzzsd" him for an item, when the two
met on a bob tail car.
II should imagine" said the scribe, in
hope of "worming' something for the tele-
graph man. that you have good oppor-
tunity over in your office to see good deal
OF human nature, and, through the dis
patches which pass through your hands,
know good deal OF what is going on"
"Yes. do" was the reply. "And see
a good deal of the comical side Of the busi-
ness, too. Now, it was only to-day, that
q young woman rushed into the Office and
handed me several sheets of closely writ
ten note paper, and asked what it would cost
to send it to her husband in San Francisco.
l counted the words and il figured up to $6
She was paralyzed, and said that was too
much. told her she might condense it,
and she asked me ifI couldn't do it for