The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-05-25

/ and competition, just 10 sell one poor
canvas to the Society for 9he Promotion
of Artl No more true comradeshipl
The aged Ferucci continued his bitter
Indictment
you, too he concluded, looking at
Orlando-.'you have lost all interest in
everything. Art2 You mock at it, and
| you take your walks, well dressed, with
horid face, smiling at the beautiful la
dies in the row OF passing carriages"
He stopped a few moments. Rienzi
listened to him sadly. Ferucei contin-
ued, with sigh:
Ny children. art is dying round about
us-art is deadi am left, the last pom
tiff-no, the last servant--of the ideal.
Fortunately, for the servants of the ideal
die of poverty and hunger amid the we'll
dressed bourgeoisl'
"AhF7 he exclaimed, bitterly, ito eat
every day when one is hungry, to sleep
in good bed, to change ones linen FREE
quently, to wear stockings that have no
holes in them, knit by woman's hands
that is happiness, and the height of wis
dom, and talent. and glory, and ALI
l speak of what I know" he con-
tiuued, gIoomily. II do not see how
it is that l succeed in eating every day.
Now he forgot himself, going so far as
to impars secrets that he had never
before confded to any one.
g l am only too glad" he exclaimed,
"when Masto Pope, that miserable deal
er, orders of me an authentic picture
by some well known painter, to which
the scoundrel adds the signatureP'
sFcruccil" cried Rienzi, severely.
"Whyi'' said the old artist, Zone must
eat, my dear boy. see, then, a prospect
of white linen, anchovy biscuits and
trips in Padre Antonio's boat. For sums
varying from five to twenty-five francs
they supply me with colors, canvas
and brushes-I produce Fortunys, De-
tailles, MISUNDERSTANDING that peo-
pie will buy
Rien1 could not restrain an angry
growl; he opened his mouth to speak.
but the old artist gently raised his hand,
again interrupting him, and continued,
in a fatigued voice:
81 even produce-although I revere
and love you'll produce Rienzis most Of
all. Do not be angry, my great Peppino;
this does not affect your glory. 1t de-
ceives only the imbeciles and contempt
ible fellows who would like to get for
few hundred francs whole years toll
of a painter of genius. Those whound
stand art lose no time over our paltry
limitations"
''But, then" Rienzi violently broke In.
The old man, without looking at him,
without hearing him, kept on:
You see, my dear boy, the very flu
sion of a name like yours suffices to give
food, even from afar, with no trouble on
your part, to the disinherfted like me-
Rienzi was disarmed. What anger
could Withstand this confession of an
unconscious cynicism, so full of sorrows
endured?
Ferucci told the bitter experiences of
days, the inhospitality of men and
things. And all this simply, az the
progress of life, in supreme lassitude.
Rienzi looked at him with growing
sadness. The vision of old age and pos
sible decrepitude rose before the young
masters eyes. And, speaking in his
turn, impelled by the influence Of his
surroundings The murmured:
81 feel myself robust and strong
enough for the expenditure of several
lives. can look at the sun fer hours,
walk over dusty and burning roads, en-
dure cold, hunger, thirst, without ever
feeling lassitude, without pains and with
out exhaustion
He turned to his wife.
81 love-" said he; "and I am loved as
wish to be, to the exclusion of every
thing, without thought, without an en-
thusiasnl, without even comprehension
outside of myselfiv
Then his brow wrinkled.
when | think that some day perhaps
my faculties will decline, that my bare
head win have only few white hairs
upon it, and that my legs will sustain me
no longer-hl' he exclaimed, with a
shudder, II would like to believe in an
endless futures; desire an immortal love!
Youth, beauty, grace, all our infnity of
love; her voice, OIL that voice which
others scarcely know, her voice which
pours forth tenderness and marvellous
dreams-al this may change, diminish,
or disappear some day in DEATH That is
what often makes me shudder with a
sadness which you do not known
These words came to the souls of all
as the translation of certain shadows
which they had seen pass over Rienzis
face.
Ferucci let them fall, as heavy and
sorrowfui vibrations, into the immensely
of the sea.
Then he answered.:
'Grow old! You'll Ny RienziI Nature
has given you manly beauty and grace,
charm and genius, the crown of all
things, woman's love corresponding
to the most ambitious aspirations of your
brain and heart.
sChild," he declared in q tone OF
prophecy, ''y i will never know diIninu-
ton; logical nature does not create
man like you to drop her work by the
roadside. You will die in full glory, in
full youth, in full love, in full genius,
like the heroes and demigods."
The conversation was saddened; the
Neapolitans donot like to speak of death.