The herald., 1893-07-23
AN ARTISTS STORY.

It's 20 years since that time. Twas
light hearted boy then-a boy of 20. I
lived in Paris, and ! studied Art. Being
an artist, always spelled Art with a
capital A. have other things to think
of besides Art now. I 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 I want to
talk, it is of Orson-of Orson the Hir-
suite, Orson the Unrelenting, Orson the
Halter of Art. OF course his name
wasn't Orson. His real name was
Jobinard, and he lived at the corner Of
the Rue de IAnoienne Comedie, did this
uncompromising grocer, this we'll to do
Esau Of the Quarter 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 foir' he would say, with a super
cilious sneer, "Credit is dead, my good
young sir. He doesntlive here any long.
er. He is dead and buried"
And then one had to 60 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 Jobinard's, one Of those little
sham boneless hams; they've quite
enough on them for four. Timed pro-
visions in inexhaustible variety, wines
from 75 centimes upward, liquors, des-
sert, even in the shape of cheeses of all
sorts, almonds and raisins, grapes and
peaches. 1t was excessively convenient
When cne sas 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 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 1--WE" I mean
the Art students. but of all the Art stu
dents that we're 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 time. It was the
society or Mile. Amenaide that Daburon
hungered for. and he got 1t because he
was entitled to 1t, being purchaser.
Mile. Amenaide was Jobinard's cash.
lar g1Tt xxyoo n Iorca ch~,,, o,,d <1,a,.o ,,,or,
several assistants, but all moneys were
paid to Mile. Amenaide, the cashier, who
sat in glass box underneath the great
Ginning clock.
Daburon, the sculptor, would enter
the shop, nod in 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 q kiss
from the tips Of his fingers, as though he
were circus rideri then he would take
up box of matches or some other PEI
culiarly inexpensive article.
"Have the kindness to wrap that up
carefully for me in paper" he would re-
mark in patronizing manner. Then he
would march up to Mile. Amenaide with
the air of an Alexander-you could al
most hear the tune of 'sSee the CONQUER
ing Hero Comes" playing as you saw him
do it. He would pay his 10 confines
and whisper some compliment into the
ear of Mile. Amenaide. Then he would
receive his purchase from the hand of M.
Jobinard in 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 of
the seven wonders of the world.
"What a bustl' OF What armsr' or
"What nuscularity!" he would say, and
then he would heave sigh and swagger
out of the shop.
Jobinard, who was particularly ugly,
thickset, hairy little man, used at first
rather to resent these references to his
personal advantages. His four assist
ants and his cashier would litter, and
Jobinard used to blush, but at length
the poor fellow fell into the snare laid
for him by the villain Daburon.
He got to believe himself the perfect
type of manly beauty. When French
man has once come to this conclusion,
there is no folly of which he is not ready
TO be guilty.
The fact is. Daburon had passed the |
word round. The Art students, male
and female, invariably stared apprecia-
lively at the little, hairy, thickset Jo-
binard as though he were the glass of |
fashion and the mold of form. Jobinard
now began to give himself airs. He
about the shop, he exhibited
himself in the doorway, he posed and at
;itudinized all day long, and then we be-
yan to make it rather warm for Jobi-
,ard.
"Ah, M. Jobinard, If you were only
,oor man, what thing 1T would be for
Arti All, If we only had you to sit to us
n the nude We are going to do Ajax
lefying the lightning next week. What
N Ajax you would make, Jobinard"
"You really ought to sacrifice yourself
n the interests of Art" another would
"Xou'd ruin the professional
model. You would indeed"
"Gentlemen. gentlemen" Jobinard
7ould reply, his hairy, baboonlike face
rinning with delight, "a too benevolent
eaven has made me the man I am, and
hen he struck an attitude.