Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-07-10
AN ARTISTS STORY.

It's 20 years since that time. I was a light hearted boy then-a boy of 20. l lived in Paris, and studied Art. Being an artist, l always spelled Art with a capital \. I have other things to think of besides Art now. 1 have to think of painting what the public will buy. I have to make it pay-I have made it pay.
 But it is not about myself l want to talk; 1t is of Orson-of Orson the Hir- sute, Orson the Unrelenting, Orson the Hater of Art. Of course his name wasn't Orson. His real name was Jobinard, and he lived at the corner of the Rue de IAncienne Comedie, did this uncompromising grocer, this well to do Esau of the Quartier Latin, this man who hated Art. artists, and, above all, Art students with a peculiar ferocity.
 Alcibiade Jobinard had reason to dis like Art students. They had nasty way of getting into his debt. but Jobi- nard took the bull by the horns-he gave no more credit.
 Ma foi.' he would say, with a super cilious sheer, Credit is dead, my good young sir. He doesn't live here any long CT. He is dead and buried"
 And then one had to go empty away. It had been so handy in the good old days just to run into Jobinard's for whatever one wanted, and-well, ''stick it up." You see, you could get an entire meal at JobinarIs, one of those little sham boneless hams; they've quite enough on them for four. Timed pro- visions in iuexhauatlble variety, wines ! sert, even in the shape of chceses of all sorts, almonds and raisins, grapes and peaches. It was excessively convenient. When one was hard up, one dealt with Jobinard, and it was put down to the ac- count. When one was in funds, one dined and breakfasted at a restaurant and left Jobinard's severely alone.
 But now all was changed. Mile. Am enaide was an uncommonly pretty girl, and we were all desperately head over heels in love with her. By "we" mean the Art students, but of all the Art stu dents that were desperately in love with Mile. Amenaide, Daburon, the sculptor, was the most demonstrative. Jobinard hated Daburon with deadly hatred be- cause Daburon never expended more than 10 centimes at a time. It was the society of Mile. Amenaide that Daburon hungered for, and he got it because he was entitled to it, being a purchaser. Mile. Amenaide was Jobinard's cash fer. It was large shop, and there were several assistants, but all moneys were paid to Mile. Amenaide, the cashier, who sat in glass box underneath the great chiIning clock.
 Daburon, the sculptor, would enter the shop, nod in a cavalier manner to Jobinard, as though he were the very dust beneath his feet; then he would look at Mile. Amenaide, raise his hat | with his right hand, place his left upon his heart and make her low bow; then he would pretend to blow her a kiss from the tips of his fingers, as though he were circus rider; then he would take | up q box of matches or some other pc culiarly inexpensive article.
 Have the kindness to wrap that up carefully for me in paper" he would re mark in a patroniZing manner. Then he would march up to Mile. Amenaide with the air of an Alexander-you could al. most hear the tune of See the Conquer. ing Hero Comes" playing as you saw him do it. He would pay his 10 centimes and whisper some compliment into the ear of Mile. Amenaide. Then he would receive his purchase from the hand of M Jobinard in a magnificent and con descending manner. Then he would strike ridiculous attitude of exagger ated admiration and stare at the un happy grocer as though he were one oi the seven wonders of the world.
 What a bustr' or What arms!" ol What muscularityT' he would say, anC then he would heave a sigh and swaggel out of the shop.
 Jobinard, who was particularly ugly thickset, hairy little man, used at frs rather to resent these references to hi personal advantages. His four assist ants and his cashier would litter, ant Jobinard used to blush, but at lengtl the poor fellow fell into the snare lait for him by the villain Daburon. He got to believe himself the perfec type of manly beauty. When French man has once come to this conclusion there is no folly of which he is not read,
 to be guilty.
 The fact is, Daburon had passed tn
 word round The Art students. nal