Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1892-03-12
THAT RARE ENGRAVING
"A Story Of Mr.. and Mrs. Clever's
Wedding Anniversary.

Beautltul!' SAID Mr.. clever, ecStat-
lcally. d
"Exquisite!" echoed Mrs Clever,
standing on tiptoe, to peep over her
husbands shoulder
who's the artist?" said Mr.. Clever,
putting up his eyeglasses.
"Donnavetti, of Rome" responded
some one who chanced to be nearer the
sight-line than he himself was.
'And what's the subject?" dem anded
Mr.. Clever, who, being business man,
was not quite posted in poetic lore. "a
lady divinity?"
'Opheliar interposed Mrs. Clever,
brislsly.
"Oh!" said her husband, "from
Shakespeare? King Lear ANT itp"
Hamlet corrected Mrs Clever.
"oh yes, Hamlet" nodded her
husband. ~ knew it must be in some
of those comedies"
''Its a tragedy"
whats the difference? It's all one
In the end. But really, that pictures
something different from the common.
L wonder if l could get the artist to
paint one for me like it?"
Hardly" said connoisseur, who
was standing near.
II don't mind the expense" asserted
Mr.. Clever, loftily (Which wasn't
strictly true, for he did).
''Yes, but unfortunately Donnavetti,
of Rome, died twenty -odd years ago"
Mr. Clcvers countenance fell.
'Oh!' said 'he. II was rather struck
by the picture-that's all"
$50 was L." said Mrs Clever; such
sweet facc-and the shadows on the
water so perfect! And only look at
the blue-lags and rushes along the
shore"
Il think there are one or two en-
cravings of it, yet extant," remarked
MIR. Poulett, the connoisseur. And a
steel-engraving is next best to an oil
painting, you know"
ANY chromos?" said Mr.. Clever,
priclsing up bis ears
'Chromos" scornfully echoed old
Poulett ''Of Donnavetti, of Rome?"
"Horrid!' chimed Mrs Clever "Why,
got chrome yesterday, with a trial
pound of tea that l bought-a mere
red-and-yellow daub. Nobody toler-
ates chromos nowadays"
SO Mr.. and Mrs. Clever went home
from MIR. Moidore Millions picture
gallery opened for week to the pub
lie, TO help along some limping charity
ON artistic thoughts intent.
81 never saw Mr.. Clever so interest
ed in a picture" pondered the lady.
''Tll surprise him with one of those en-
cravings for our anniversary present,
if it can be obtained. Although did
not really fancy it."
''Maria was perfectly fascinated
with that sprawling woman in the
water" reflected Mr.. Clever. TASTES
differ. Give me good, red-hot battle
piece or a landscape with plenty of
sunshine. But if money IL buy the
'Ophelia, it shall be Maria's on the an
-niversary of our wedding-day."
Mr.. Clever dealt in hides and leather
ION Spruce street-a lucrative business,
although not an aristocratic one-aud
just around the corner an old Jewish
picture-dealer lurked, like q human
spider in his den. To Mr.. Ezra Elias
sen our hero FASTENED. and explained
his wishes.
''Yesh, yesh, understand, nodded
Mr.. Eliassen. "Dere is one at Mento-
mis-, but it coshts-ah, mine faith, it
rcoshts it's weight in gold! 1t ish rare
very rare. And dere ish only one in
de country"
"What would it cost?" asked Clever,
with his hands in his pockets and one
foot tapping the fender.
"Shcventy-five dollarsh,'' said Mr..
Eliassen. after hurried calculation
that the engraving might possibly cost
him twenty.
''Order it, then, and don't let soul
know what your orders for NUNS
the word"
ii underestimate | undershtand.
Mrs. Clever made haste to her friend,
Mr. Poulett.
'Mr. Poulctt," she said, Il must have
that epgraving-by What's-his.name,
of Rome. 1 want to surprise my hus-
band; but it must be profound secret
from him."
"It'l cost money" said Mr. Poulett,
clicking his penhandle against his teeth,
for when he wasn't an art critic for the
newspapers he was paying teller in an
uptown bank.
u don't care what it COSTS" said
Mrs Clever.
Sixty dollars at least" said Mr..
Poulett, whose conscience was less
elastic than that of old Eliassen.
''Thcn let it be secured at once"
said Mrs. Clever "It will take the
whole of my months allowance, but
the grocer and baker and other trades
people will all trust me. Iknow."
So Mr. Poulctt wended after bank.
ing hours TO Mentoni's
''Can You get that proof OF Donnavet.
tis ophelia? said he.