Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-28

| vigorously, and gazing, with a far-awa,
| glance, into the region of nowhere. 1t wal
not satisfied expression, this of John Far.
ley's-no, decidedly not. It appeared tc
have quarrel with the world, but did moi
seem to know precisely at which quarter Of
it to commence hostilities. Truth to tell, he
was disappointed man. He had started
life, as many another, with high
aims and ambitions, and they had
brought him no better fruit than scene
painter to the Porchester Theater, with, in
stead observation-disclosures and honors, the
unhattering title of "DaubsI Do you won
upon the "thirties," he looked upon life
with little love, and upon the constituents
of its big constituency with little admira-
ton?
John had private grievance as well as a
public. He lived in a fiat of block of
houses situate in Seymour street, about q
quarter of an hours walk from the theater
For some days past he had determined on
making another bid for fame and fortune
by painting a grand picture. He
had commenced various designs
for this ''masterpiece,,' but none
of them had proved entirely satisfactory
And now, as though to Illustrate all his
hopes, q new source of disturbance had
arisen. John possessed one of those mer-
curial, nervous temperaments, born princi-
pallv of a morbid, solitary life, which de-
manded absolute quiet for any profitable
employment of the intellect. For this rea-
son he detested the atmosphere of a theater,
and for this reason he yet more detested the
fate that had cast his fortunes in its midst.
In the apartments where he lived, mean as
they were, he usually found tranquility.
He could at least think, smoke, sketch, or
write, as the fit took him, without disturb
ance. But now, just at the time when he
most desired and needed quiet, the bugbear
he fled had attacked him in his very strong
hold.
In the rooms beneath those he occupied
lived a poor widow with her two children, a
boy and girl. John knew this much from
the landlady. He knew, too, that the boy
was employed at the Comedy Theater
Further than this he had not cared to inquire.
Usually they were as quiet as the proverbial
mouse, but latterly Johns ears had been af-
hicted with groans and cries of pain, pro-
ceeding from the widows apartments, and
kept up with aggravating regularity
throughout the night. They were the crios
of child-and q child in great suffering.
A person less centered in his own projects
than John might have at least felt some
sympathy with the sufferer, but John had
evidently lost kinship with the deeper emo
tions, and instead of sympathy he expert
enced only a feeling of annoyance and
keen resentment against the widow and
"her brats" as he styled them. Thus it
was that, think as he would, the subject OF
this grand picture which was to take the
world by storm and out-Raphael Raphael,
persisted in evading him; and thus it is we
find him, in more cynical mood than usual,
at the Comedy Theater. in no haste to return
to the scene Of his failures.
"What is the use of striving?" mused
John, as he slowly pufed his pipe Zone
might as we'll throw up the sponge. Fate
is too much for me. He follows at my
elbow everywhere. His usual running
ground is not enough for him. Now he
follows me home, and gives me solo of his
own peculiar music through one of his
imps."
A timid knock sounded upon the door.
John was busy with his thoughts. and did
not hear it.
"Tnat theory of Longfellow's is correct
art is long. In what sphere could you find
a longer? Supportable might this be, but
cold indifference to poor devil aching for a
CLEAN of sympathy is insupportable."
The knock at the door was repeated, but
with the same effect as before.
"The grinning public-iust tickle its side
that is all it needs. He who caters most
to its stupidity in life is he who gains the
proud distinction of public mausoleum
at his death. 1 have not got quite into the
way, but still I see in perspective monu-
ment dedicated to-'Daubs.'
A sound, light as gossamer wing, was
heard in the room. John Farley turned