New-York tribune., 1890-06-29
AN ARTISTIC MYSTERY.

w.. hoon rich man. the world OF
Az would. assuredly. have known known; I'm W. Ari was
IL premier patrons. HIS ue,.1tuI in Art partook
religion. his love oil the Us friends when speak
oi 20 HIM Shrugged their shoulders a,iu ,o nevcr
.e,bis nassion as a fad and hoo;HS crticoI ner-
10 ynis prsIited him with certain GIVE ,St P"u
the!ess thee ;n matters pertaining to IT, AiFi "'
cepVIon IA -, Inc il was a small matter 10 nane &
-, deter to the opinion OF such an Inowing
son on so trivial s9oJeSe 40 snapcia knowledge he
s,n'csd as rn.sd was worthless from coiNiiei0'' p
of view. - . ., amateur in the true sense
iVI W. MI his funds being Insufficient 10 any"
OF tns Io ,nnch else than admire. N0t liiau hc
nh anv inclination to trade on his ski. III IIG
mept He would have ScoInea en" ends ID lie deemed
!. .no sacred a qualification for thet' ~ i'.~ @
cireumstan nces permitted. his amnilioh wVu" nrl,
been 10 make famous coliec,on ,od oi iiS life 1o
o. OF the enS & and then left the collection TO the
nation That was his dream Most nen Gre in
contentcd with the prospect OF penem.is ct a" than
.h dccd bnt in the nation Mr.. WrcX saw
c"Ilertivc unit which he in fancy made nus aeo'ot
and in fancy beard its stll' small 'oioc VI
But Mr. wrex was not rich. as any, one visitlns
his little cottage could tell at a glance: Not of
would the stranger, Judging by the spcc1nGgns NJ,
nictures and cheap statuary that dcckeu M
Wrcy.s parlor have deemed him the man OF 'as,e a
he really was. Only those intimate WIN nun nun
knew how deeply-a1d, as me- .ncS n Songtstj artistc
lore Knew of the small but select library pear,
inr on Art which he possessed; OF inc plFS VI
picture iogues that filed the cottagc oi e ee
tours he spent in galleries and In potcrin2 aoouS
the Inusty shops Of small dealers. Some rev OF
them. who occasionally had perforce 10 nslen
when their learned friend grew dtcouSlVe OH Iiis
favorite theme. knew Of these things bnt onc
stranger would have set Mr.. WreN down merely
MS the owner of number of stainel. "WurS t1,S
prints, and grlmy, wordiiess cdii' - .n,I
-sl.o. of,o
n rarity; soiled perhaps. but Of some value none
the less.
But so it was The prints were, some of them
the work of famous hands; some OF tne OILS
original rities by pupils OF old artists, cVlhcIns
10 Mr. WreX traces of the mastrr-hand. Inc
owner had a history of each and a SURPRISING love
for all collectively.
nor old but his hair was gray and his haolts
those of sober years. Ever since he coulu re-
member lie had lived on diminutive legacy IN
herited from departed aunt In his youth he
had worked and strven TO create; but whether
from want of ability or the proper instruction
She noble thoughts that had filled him never ap-
peared on canvas When the truth dawned on
him that he lacked the necessary qualifications TO
make great name, he quietly put palette and
brushes aside, gave up painting and turned o IoI
consolation to the study and admiration of the
genius of other men. Sooner than he expected,
his want of success as painter and the griei IL
had occasioned him were forgotten l. in n this & de,
works Of the masters made him lose all regret for
the noncxistence of any small talent in himself
He haunted the Art galleries and the sale rooms,
and was prominent figure wherever painters and
connoisseurs gathered. In time he was known
and respected by buyers and sellers alike for his
clear and Just perception of all that is best III Art
in short he became distinguished as the possessoI
Of that rare quality, valuable and unprejudiced
criticism.
But If Mr.. Wrex made voluation, or passed a
service, he did so without payment The pleas
ufe such things afforded him was sufficient return
Yet many an unconsidered trte, such as small
value, was forced on him by those who telt under
an obligation TO him. These helped TO swell hls
collection though none of them, however
choice. We're permitted to Dust from its place OF
honor on his parlor wall the one gem he had ac
Quired by his own nice disccrnment, and paid fol
out Of his own pocket Ihis was female he head
The moment Mr.. WreX had caught sight OF il
in the dark recess oil small dealers den, h'
knew he had alighted on yeritable antique, moth
At great inconvenience he had, there and then
purchased it Tor 25 shlings and carried his treas
the cleaning he restored some of its. pristine
6iilliancy OF hue and execution to the picture,
one of whose corners the traces OF the artist
Signature were now visible.
The pride Mr. Wrex took in exhibiting thi
work to his friends that its authentcit,
was established can with difficulty be expressed
No collection TO his knowledge even possesse
copy of it. IL was absolutely unique one o
the few specimens of FL Divinos work out 0
Spain But the praise accorded it by his neigh
bOrs Mr. WrcX felt 10 be strained. They lacke'
that nice appreciation which only the educated Il
Art possess, the enthusiasm of the amateur, tn
homage of the student 10 the master, which h
spectator. Only Miss Malyon among all hi
friends would lie knew, appreciate the plctur
Us it deserved comprehend It's beauties and lingc
over them with tender reverence.
Miss Malyon artist without name
In other words, the letters which composed it ha,
never yet been affixed 10 her canvases. Indeed
tha Inffn hnr Inntf tfAnS fha MAJ acStf
1or them 70 20 namecss into the market Fo
Miss Malyon's forte lay in making accurate copie
81 the OLD Masters, and She was retained ny
lrm Of dealers TO do nothing else. Mr.. Wrcl
had first met her in n public gallery, where she, il
common with other Students was at work II
bad remarked the accuracy Of q reduced copy o
litian's Flora on which she was engaged, com
plimented her on her talent, and so drftcd int
conversation. Miss Malyon longer young
she had long been working member Of the human
hive, and accordingly felt no painful shynesS in cX
Changing artistic amenities with a stranger. Tn
freemasonry OF her craft. moreover, permitted Suc
c.vilites and, for the rest, Mr.. WreX was n state
and sober speaking person whom any womal
might have acknowledged without hesitation
They met constantly, each regarding the othc
with, WIN t respect, %nG., as they became better &C
they represented the theory and practice of Art
and truly platonic friendship ensued.
So, in due course, Miss Malyon was taken I
see the Morales, and the cup Of Mr. Wrex's hal
pness was filled when. after many minutes spcn
In silent admiration, Miss Malyon expressed he
opinion.
:" 1t is truly great size cried
Poor Mr. Wrcx felt his eyes mostcning a
last due reverence was paid to Art and artis
both. lie felt his heart suddenly warm TO th
slight figure whose uplifted gray eyes feste
with rapture on the image Of the saint
" II is the lost 81. Cecilia" he rurmurct
Painted by FL Divino when he was in Ital
with Raphael"
Yea. surely, il is Morales said Miss Malyor
"Ol, Mr.. WrcX, it must he priceless
shall not sell it, said Mr.. Wrex, with dc
cision.
After that they fell 10 discussing its perfection:
For time Mr.. Wrex discoursed learnedly on III
tone and texture Of his gem. But in spite of hin
self his eyes began TO wander from the picture
face to that Of the living one beside him, an
MIR. WreX, for the first time in his life forgo
the technicalities Of Art in the contemplation O
Natures handiwork
When, at length, he parted from Miss Malyon II
somehow felt his admiration Of the painting al
sorhcd in something else which he could not OK
actly define. Only this he knew: no one had eve
before listened him with fhc cha rminr nttenti 10