The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-01-26
TT WAS VERY BAD.
An Artists Criticism That Brought
About Romance.

crowd of artists, many Young and few
old that constituted the committee of
che Society of Water Colors"-a little,
simple minded society, composed of
amateurs and young artists, with one
or two veterans to give it back bone
They were sitting in judgment on
&hc picture sent in for their annual cX-
hibition, and they looked critical and
grave, as befitted their task.
The talk hummed on among the
committee. and at last the fiat went
Horth-all the pictures were to be adj
united. To this one of the vctcrans-a
Eood-loolSing man of thirty five OBJ
3eoted.
''Thcre is one really too abomina-
bly, bad" said he. THAT Scene from
Macbeth'-it would never do to have
that"
"Oh, como, Stretton, you're too par
ticular. 1t will pass muster among tho
rest
mo, it won't; it will be a disgrace to
the exhibition. just look at Macbeth's
Qeg! And the color-perfectly rawl 1t
will never do"
So the hum began again, and the re-
suit was that the 'Scene from Mac
beth" was literally and figuratively
burned face to the wall.
trettor, satisfied at having saved
the honor of the society, left the others
TO settle the remaining business, and
WAS walking out of the room when he
paine face to face with Boggs-a good
natured little amateur, who could not
draw ANY more than frog who hasn't
got no tail" but was immensely con-
Eeited to make up for it. He caught at
Btretton eagerly.
81 say, old fellow, you've done it'll
You know that picture you insisted
npon turning out? Well, it was paint
cd by a young girl and she was in the
next room and heard every word that
you said and has gone home crying her
eyes out"
"By Jovel" exclaimed Stretton, look
ing dismayed. "l'm awfully sorry. 1
wouldn't have had it happen for the
world. Poor little thing. Confound
my stupidity! might have known bet
ter. What shall l do? Where is the
picture?"
''She's taken it home with her." said
little Boggs.
"What an awful idiot was" went
on Strctton. Poor little girl! 1 say.
Boggs, you're going my way. Suppose
we lay our heads together and sec
what can be done"
The next morning, as the ''poor little
girl" sat painting away in a corner of
her sitting-room, while her mother
dozed and crochcted and lamcnted the
days when Mr. Grierson was alive and
they did not have to live in lodgings,
the dingy, overgrown servant girl an
nounced n gentleman to sec Miss
Grierson.
Miss Gricrson remembered little
Boggs' face, and the thought of her re-
jected picture made her turn hot and
cold together.
Little Boggs introduced himself and
plunged in medias res. I'm awfully
sorry. Miss Grierson, that you heard
what was said yesterday, and L"
at is matter of no consequence ut
all," interrupted Miss Grierson, with
as much whitening calmncss as if poor
little Boggs had called her picture
''abominably bad"
well, but you know. Miss Grier-
SON." persisted little Boggs, II want to
explain | think you ought to know
My friend-at least, Stretton, you
know-he said that purely out of spite
He had quarrel with your father once
and he did that just to spite you; he
Gays SO himself.
III thought it my duty to tell you,
and wouldn't be cut up about it ut all
If were you. l would just put it in
Smells window and let the public
judge. l did the same thing with one
OF mine and it wcnt off first rate Good
morning." And little Boggs Numbered
out of the room, feeling like a fool and
looking much the same, it must be con-
fessed.
"Who was 1T, Edithp" asked Mrs
Grierson. coming back to her easy
chair.
Some one from the society, NAM
ma" said Edith, sitting her rage
Does anyone want to buy your pic
turc?"
mo, no, mamma; am only advised
to put 1t in SHELLS window. l shall do
At, and-well, we shall see."
"Abominably badl'' The picture
should go to Snell's that afternoon, and
the public should judge. as Mr.. Boggs
suggested.
And to SHELLS it went. but not to re-
main long. The next morning, when
Edith passed the shop. no blue and
brick color Macbeth graced the win
dow.
With quite sensation" she entered
and learned that it had been sold an
hour before to gentleman who would
like two more Shakespearean subjects
If she would paint them.
She walked home as if crowned with
laurel and she entered the little semi
detached house as she would enter the
temple OF fame