The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-28
TOO MUCH BLUE.

Early on q fine summer morning an old
man was walking on the road between Brus-
sells and Namur. He expected friends to
arrive BY the diligence. and he set out some
time before it was due to meet 1t on the
road. Having a good deal Of time to spare
he amused himself by watching any object
OF interest that caught his eye. and at length
stopped TO inspect the operations of painter
who, ted on ladder placed against
the front of a wayside inn, was busily EN-
ployed in depicting a sign suitable to Its
name, The Rising SUM-"
Here" said the old man to himself, rs
an honest dauber who knows as much OF
perspective as carthorse, and who. I'll
warrant, fancies himself Ruhens; How
he brushes in that ultramarlne SKY
The critic commenced walking backward
and forward before the Inn, thinking that
he might as well loter there for the dill
gence as walk on further. The painter,
meantime continued TO lay on lresh coats
Of the brightest blue, which appeared 10
aggrayate the old gentleman very mucb. AT
length. when the sign-painter TOOK ahoiher
brushfnl Of blue paint TO plaster on; the
spectator could endure it no longer, and ex-
claimed severely:
TOO much biue!'
perch. aud said in the tone of forced calm
ness which an angry man sometimes as
sumes:
Monsieur does not perceive that am
painting a sky" A.
irving to paint sky, but l tell you again
there is too much blue. 80
Ibid you ever see skies painted without
blue Master Amateur p
Il am not an amateur; l merely tell you
in passing-I make the casual remark
that there is too much blue but 40 as
you like. Put on more blue, ii you Qonb
think you have troweled on enough al
ready"
But / tell you that want 10 represent
clear blue sky at sunrise.
'And / tell you that no man ID us senses
would make sky al sunrise blue.
"By Saint GuduIa, this Is too muchF eX-
claimed the painter. coming uoWu rom n i!
ladder, at no pains to conceal MS anger L
should ike TO see now you "ouiu PANT
~ don't pretend to much skill in sky
painting, but if l were 10 make trial L
wouldn't put in too much blue.
"And what would IL look ike IL you
didn't?"
Like nature. 1 hope, and not yours.
which might be taken for bed oil gentlan.
ella. or a sample of English cloth, or any
thing Won please-except sky; beg TO
assure you. for tue tenth time, there Is too
Il tell Won what. old gentleman" cried
the iHsulted artist, crossing his mahl.stlck
over his shoulder and looking very fierce.
Il dare say you are very worlhy iellow
when you are at home, but you should not
be let OUt-aione."
''NOnsenseP' exclaimed the critic, as ne
snatched the palette from the painters
hand. You deserve TO have your portrait
painted TO serve for the sign OF the 'flem-
ish ASST"
In his Indignation he mounted the ladder
with the activity of boy, and began with
the palm OF lis hand to efiace Inc chef
d'Guvre OF Gerard Douw's great grandson's
third cousin.
''Stcpl you old charlatan" shouted the
latter; you are running my slgnl why.
Its worth 80 francs. And then my reputa-
uon-losIl gone foreyerP
He shook the ladder violently TO MAKE ms
prosecutor descend; but the latter, undis-
turbed either by that or by the presence OF
crowd Of villagers attracted by the dis
pute. continued mercilessty to blot out the
glowing landscape. Then, using merely the
point Of his finger and the handle OF
brush, he skeiched in mastery outline
three Flemish Doors, with beer glasses In
their hands, drinking TO the rising sun.
which appeared above the horizon, dlspers-
Ing the gloom of grayish morning SKY.
One of the faces presented strong and
laughabe earicature Of the suDplanted sign
painter. The spectators at first were greatly
disposed 10 take part with their country
man against the intrusive stranger. Whal