The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-11-23
A HERO" In CLAY.
Why Bob Bannister Destroyed His
Best Bit of Work.

1t was the luckiest hit old Bannister
had ever made. How he did it nobody
knew. He didn't even know himself.
1.-THE thing seemed to grow under
my hands," he would say, quietly,
land had no idea that it was any
thing better than my usual work, until
/ had finished it and came to look at it
as whole, then"
There was no doubt about it, he had
never before done anything to equal
it 1t was rather large statuette Of
an ancient warrior, delicately mod
eled in clay--a slender. sinewy look
ing figure, the head thrown gracefully
back, one foot slightly advanced, a
short sword clasped in the uplifted
right hand and round shield poised
firmly before his breast.
There was subtle ease, quiet
grace in the carriage and attitude, a
keen, calm eagerness expressed In the
fine features of the figure, that none
but man of genius would have ac-
complished. And, yet, old Bob Ban
mister had no genius-not bit. All
his friends knew that, and he freely
acknowledged it himself.
Bob's chief ambition was to be
great sculptor-to do some great work
that should bring him wealth for the
present and fame for all time. But
by degrees he narrowed his ambition
down until he came to look for moth
ing from art but the means of living
in reasonable comfort from day to
day.
Bob's particular crony and brother
in art, Alfred Maiden, was man some
five years older than himself. The
two men had met rather more than
twenty years before, and had been
the closest of friends ever since. They
rented small studio between them
on the highest floor of a tall building
in the vicinity OF Oxford street. They
had even shared the same apartments
together in respectable boarding
house in Mecklenburg square, until
Maiden was married and became the
owner of small residence at Pad
dington.
1t was past nine o'clock at night, and
the two men sat by the Preside of their
studio, smoking last pipe apiece be-
fore going home. Grouped about them
in grotesque confusion were numerous
half-finished and finished clay models.
busts of all manner of real and ideal
men and women, and all the miscel-
laneous litter OF a sculptor's work
room; on the walls hung medallions
and base reliefs of all shapes and sizes,
crayon sketches and a number of pic
lures in oils and water colors. But
the most conspicuous object of all
standing on an imposing pedestal in the
center of the room-was Bob's latest
work, his masterpiece, his Hero" in
clay.
Certainly" said Bob, regarding his
work complacently, and speaking with
a slow, meditative drawl, between
dreamy whiffs at his pipe, Its the
only thing I've ever done tina feel
tempted to be proud of, and, as you
say, goodness only knows how l man
aged to do il so well. But there 1t is.
I'VE done it. and really DO think I'm
entitled to be little proud of it, eh?'
'.Of course" responded Maiden
modify; especially when you con-
slider that rumor of IL has caused
real live marquis to come up and look
at IL, and to be SO taken with 1t as to
say he will even buy it."
Now, ALI, Aft" cried Bannister,
playfully.
..Fact!" said Maiden, shortly. mo |
man gives money for thing unless he
thinks it's worth his money"
sWell, of course, I'm pleased to have
a purchaser in prospect. Anyone
would be-"
"Undoubtedly," grumbled Maiden;
"but It isn't anyone who Is lucky
enough to get purchaser who may be
the means Of introducing him TO an
connection"
Bannister looked thoughtfully into
the fire and said nothing.
II never saw such thing" Maiden
went on, Q little bitterly. You have
ALI the luck. / can't understand it
people seem TO think that my work Is
better than yours as general thing,
vet YOU always sell easier than 1 do
and get higher prices. It's luck Sheer
lucl<l" -
.Its Iucki- repeated Bannister.
II know II, my boy.
and / can't understand H. either. You
are . better workman than ! am
more industrious. more Well. - does