The morning call., 1892-12-28
AN ARTISTS ROMANCE.
His Picture Framed in Diamonds i'm a
jewelers. Window.

Philadelphia Times.
The old man who stood in front of Green's
Hotel yesterday selling papers In the rain
had a cheerful smile for every drenched
custOmerE 1t was an unusual thing, for
since the old man took his stand on the
corner there ten years ago he has become
noted for his gruffness and the trait has
won him sort Of prominence in the busy
life OF Chestnut street He is a peculiar
character, not given to talking much about
his own or other peoples affairs. but hap
pening of recent date has softened him a
little toward the world about him.
On the opposite corner of the street, in
jewelry window which blazed with dia-
monds and precious metals, was hung an
oil painting, and most people passing
stopped to see it.
''My boys picture" said the old man.
rubbing his hands. He painted it, and
they say it's good. Have you seen it?"
The customer had not he said but the
strange contrast of the old man standing
out In the rain and the oil painting among
the diamonds struck him forciby and he
walked across the street. The picture
represented the heads Of quartet of calves,
and the execution to an unpracticed eye
seemed to be well-nIgh perfect The color
ing was natural. and in the handsome
setting the painting looked like work Of
art that any salon might be proud of. A
critic would say that it was trife crude,
but that the novice who painted it had a
good deal of ability.
The old man talked about his son and the
painting readily enough. The young artists
name is Frank A. b. Linton and his studio
is on the top floor OF the Haseltine building.
at Fifteenth and Chestnut streets. The old
man used to be worth a good deal of money,
but he lost II shortly after the war, and
since then he has lived by selling papers and
little things of various sorts. His boy de-
veloped love for the painters art as soon
as he could walk and every penny the old
man earned went to educate him for the
profession.
The young man is 21 years2old now and
be has already painted several pictures that
have sold well. When the curious Gus
toner OF the papeT-vender called on him In
the Haseltine building, the first picture he
saw was a life-siZe in oil of the artists
father. 1t looked just like the old man.
"I'm getting along very well now" the
youthful painter said. i've got few stu
study under GerOme."
Linton is slim, of medium height, with a
blonde mustache and bushy hair. He
doesn't wear good clothes. but he is popu-
lar among his brother painters, about half
of whom know that he Is the son of the old
man who sells papers in the rain in front Of
Green's Hotel.
"rhe jewellers asked for one of my pict-
ures." he said. land l gave them the calves.
DechCSe L1tDk tilat Is the pest I've
painted lots during and since my studies
with Thomas Eskins of this city. | shall
give another year to my work a home and
then 60 to Paris and Rome. Have an idea
of becoming a great painter? No, guess
not, but want to get so can make living
at It."
He was diffident as to talking about his
family. BGt there Is a romance connected
with him that increases somewhat the
ambition be got with his FIRST breath. His
fathers near relatives are rich, but they
think he isn't of much account and won't
help him.
That's why we're saving all the money
we can to give me show. Mebbe III pan
out and then the money won't have been
wasted" he said.
The old man has been familiar figure to
the busy people downtown for many years
at least dozen. He is tall and gray, and
from early in the morning until late at
night, good weather or bad, he stands at his
corner with his bundle of papers. He is 65
years old. The artist is his only son, and
his wife is an invalid.
The picture and the old man On the oppo-
site corner form one of the oldest features
of life of this big city that one could find in
long walk.