Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-12-06
A HERO IN CLAY.
why BOB Bannister D Destroyed Ills
Best Bit Of Work.

my hands, he would saw. ouietlv
and had no idea that Il was ony.
thing better than my usual work. until
had finished it and came To lool, NJ n
as whole, then"
lnere was no doubt about It. he had
never before done ANYTHING 10 eoual
1T 1t was rather large statuette Of
an ancient warrior, delicatelv mod.
eled in clay-a slender, sinewv look.
Ing figure, the head thrown gracefully
back, one foot slightly advanced a
short swoni clasped in the uplifted
right hand and round shield poised
firmly before his breast.
Bob's chief ambition was tn he
great sculptor-to do some great worl,
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 moro than
twenty years before, and had been
the closest Of friends ever since. They
rented small studio between them
on the highest floor OF tall building
in thevicinity of Oxford street. They
had even shared the same apartments
together in q 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 ut night, and
the two men sat by the flreside Of their
studio, smoking last pipe apiece be-
fore going home. Grouped about them
In grotesque confusion were numerous
half-fnished and finished clay models,
busts of all manner OF real and ideal
men and women, and all the miscel-
laneous litter OF sculptors work
room; on the walls hung medallions
and base reliefs of all shapes and sizes,
crayon sketches and 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 Bobs latest
work, his masterpiece. his Hero" in
clay.
Certainly" said Bob, regarding his
work complacently, and speaking with
slow, meditative drawl, between
dreamy whiffs at his pipe, 'it's the
only thing I've ever done that feel
tempted to be proud of, and, as you
say, goodness only knows how man.
aged to do it SO well. But there it is.
I've done it, and really do think I'm
entitled to be little proud of it, eh?"
"Of course" responded Maiden
moodily; ''cspecially when you con-
slider that rumor of it has caused a
real live marquis to come up and look
at it, and to be so taken with it as to
say he will even buy it,"
"Now, ALI, Alf!' cried Bannister,
playfully.
"Factl' said Maiden, shortly. mo
man gives money for thing unless he
thinks it's worth his money"
well, 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
nristocatic connection.
= Bannister looked thoughtfully into
the fire and said nothing.
~ never saw such thing" Maiden
went on..a little bitterly. you have
all 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 dc
and get higher prices. It's luck Sheer
lucls"
"Wcll, It does seem a little hard on
you, ALI, old man
"Oh, well, you needn't keep on crow
,ro over a fellow" interrupted Nal
den, testify.
why" said Bob, looking grievous
lv shoclse d, ~ was never dreaming o.
doing such a thing. was only going
to saw may be able to find oppocrtunIi
ties of introducing you to people whc
will recognize your worth, and
"Ha, hal" laughed Maiden, dismaliy
ats very good of you to say SO now
Int Rob Bannister, Esquire, sculptor
in ordinary to his high mightiness' the
most noble marquis of Finchington
basking in the patronage OF othe'
moncved and titled gentry, VIII p'
much too great person to remempe'
poor, luckless, threadbare All MAJ
den."
"AIfr" cried Bannister, earnestly
..ron emit think I'm such NEAR
brnbuc ms thatl If ! am only 70 o'
fortnnate at the expense OF losing
az oldest--the only friend | have
hang It'll hope | never may oe iof'uA
ate at alll' t.,s ZOO,
i, rnn 70 saw So" said Alf, dejectediy
.spyt change of circumstances alter
80 on;nions wonderfully In an!
oase - Row do you suppose l. your senlo
In years, who have been wosNi,is ,s,,i,
ioncer and harder thanyon. couiu SUI SUI
~. - tbe humiliation of being patron
;zsd bv Won even though you are M
friendq 1t is humiliation enGug" p ,'now 70 y
beaten by one whose work 81. - nnoM nould
no better than my own. bu' oo"''
Mt" u;,a pol
"Dop,t say any more ! cried bo1 ,,,'
,,,nIorinrly. AFTER all the strugRl,n
we have had together to tninh ,n.a Una
anv success could carry me Deyon sy, !
amy any Seo reachl I've been selfsh-full Q
~ your p,Tn rraea good fortune. 1t tnever struc
me Sea,a sill ds no~ anything 70 hanlate TS, you
wou,,l '.an,t b, bear the thought OF u. why l
arvtbinr sS else after what t.'',ae-a We've 81, :,
s about % each other-eh, old IA, ials.nerx .IIaro,
sooner s never Nave done the nero ,l..s =,
Az can't tell you how 'ha!s sr'TssS Tssrs N
old id fellow. After all ns,S,5g 'ness sg,., to E,
think that should 90 any any" s.,''