Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-06-15
HIS MASTERPIECE.

s'at", hc 'ACil'ilVu tilulnphantly
"Thero! If that isn't the finest thing cveI
ant out OF block of marble I'm Dutch
man"
Thompson's friends came and wer,
properly transported with pleasure.
by Jovo!' they cried unanimously
What a masterpiece How beautiful"
Thompson felt lump in his throat anC
could scarcely murmur; "Truly, truly
you are not joking? You are in downright
earnest?'
His friends protested with many gestures
OF enthusiasm. Joking indccdl We arc
In downright earnest. Frankly and with.
out Partially it Is the finest statue we evel
saw.
Thompson hcsitatCd and then demand.
cd modcstly, You have no criticism to
makcl'
TO which they replied in chorus,
None"
One, however, probably seized with a
burning desire 70 distinguish himself, haz-
ardcd in timid voice, only one, Thomp-
son, only one-no more. "
Thompson turned pale, and the severe
friend added, with smile, "A trlfling
criticism really"
"What is it'" faltered the sculptor.
1T is too fine.
And his companions all echoed the sem
timcnt. True, true We were going TO
say the same ourselves. 1t is too fine"
Tears came To Thompson eyes as he re-
spondcd: Yes. You are right. 1t Is too
fine. Perhaps it is But there, one does
what he can. p"
The friends departed, shaking Thomp-
sons hand warmly. The sculptor exhibit
cd his masterpiece, convinced that II would
Yevolutionize the whole artistic world, IL
not the very art Of sculpture itself. AS for
the mob, it would be taken by storm.
But the mob was much more stupid
than even Thompson had fancied. 1t alb
solutely refused to be taken by storm. On
the contrary, 1t was wholly Indifferent
The artistic world behaved exactly like the
mob.
This is very strange" quoth Thomp-
son. And in condition of extreme de-
spondency he sent again for his friends.
I'VE told you so, you know" said they
In unison.
THE deuce you did," faltered poor
Thompson.
Yes, we said 1t was too fine"
Dear me, but that isn't fault, is it9"
We'll, Thompson, you are green, and
no mistake"
Again tho tears came to Thompson $
eyes.
Go on, go on" said he. Tell me what
am to do then"
Hero one Of tho group who had not
spoken whispered into Thompson's ear:
we don't mind giving YOU q point or
tyyn-af | (,tf . IL
matters which must be done in private
separately"
II understand, said Thompson CRATE
fully. So the sculptor sent to the gallery
for his statue, resolved to demand of each
Of his friends separately what there was
about IL that was especially too fine.
The first conner, a baldheaded man, ex-
amincd the work anew carefully Your
statue said he, has a most ridiculous
head Of hair. 1t looks to me very much
like wig. People don't have hair like
that. 1t Is absurd, Look at my head. "
Thompson could not deny the force Of
this reasoning lie swept off the flowing
locks with a few strokes of his chisel and
polished the Uranium Of his masterpiece
after the fashion of the living model before
him.
"Splcndid" cried the baldheaded man.
The second to turn up was knock
knecd party.
Your statue, Thompson, said he, lis
fitted with most prcposterously straight
legs. Such an absolutely vertical line is
Where have you ever seen
legs like those? Not on me, for example
And you know, old fellow he added,
reality before ALL 4"
Thompson groaned. He seized his chisel,
followed out the neither limbs-in fact,
from the legs Of Apollo he managed to
make pretty fair copy of those of his
friend.
Bravo declared the knockkneed man
The third was Il one armed man. Look
here, Thompson, he said confidentially,
between you and me, two arms are all
very well. Arms are all right I'm their
place, but think Of the Venus de NIilop'
Yes. " objected Thompson, II know.
The Venus do Milo has no arms now, but
you don't mean 10 assert that she never
had any,"
II do indeed. All, what daring genius
was her SCULPTOR
Not more than T." cried the excited
Thompson. With blow OF his hammer
he severed the right arm of his statue He
was just on the point OF serving the left
In the same fashion when his friend stop
ped him
NO, no. Not too much zeal Not too
much imitation either. One will do, as
sure you. "
You think sof" said Thompson.
- am sure of 1t, responded the one
armed man,
And so on with half dozen other
friends. One found fault with the nose,
whose own was broken. A cripple and q
great poet asked pleasantly
Now, whatever use are those legs at
.ug"
Thompson gaspcd:
why, to hold him up.
Nonsense. I haven't got any such
hings You dent hear me complain of
lot being held up "
Thompson saw the point. BY this time
he statue was little more than shapeless
block of marble. The last of Thompson
riends was an Fthiopian, highly Guilt
'ated and apprcciativc person.
"A fine piece of work, - said he, Every
Inc indeed But the color is unbearable. I"
Thompson covered the statue with a
eating Of black paint
The following day the friends all came
o the studio In body. They were en-
hanted. Again the statue was put on ex.
iibition,