The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-08
TOO MUCH BLUE.

placed against the front of II wayside inn,
was busily employed in depicting a sign
suitable to its name, The Rising Sun.
"Here," said the old man to himself,
"is mn honest daubcr who knows as much
of perspective as II cart horse, and who,
I'll warrant, fancies himself II Rubens.
How he brushes in that ultramarne skyl"
The critic commenced walking back
ward and forward before the inn, think
ing that he might as well loiter there for
the diligence as walk ON farther. The
painter, meantime, continued to lay OH
fresh coats of the brightest blue, which
appeared to aggravate the old gentleman
very much. At length, when the sign
painter took another brush full of blue
paint to plaster on, the spectator could en-
dure it no longer and exclaimed severely:
''Too much blucr'
The honest painter looked down from his
perch, and said i'll that TOT of forced
calnness which an angry man sometimes
assumes
monsieur does not perceive that am
painting sky"
"Oh, yes, | see very well you are trying
to paint sky, but tell you again there
is too much blue!"
Did you ever see skies painted without
blue, Master Amateur!'
u am not an amateur. l merely tell
you, in passng-I make the casual re-
mark-that there is too much blue. but
do rs you like. Put on more blue, if YOU
don't think you have troweled OH enough
already"
but tell you that want to represent
a clear blue sky ut srnrisc'
And l tell you that no man in his
senses would make II sky at sunrise blue"
"By St. Gudula, this is too muchv' ex-
claimed the painter, coming down from
his ladder at no pains this time to con-
ceal his anger. II should like to sec how
you would paint skies without blue"
II don't pretend to much skill in sky
painting, but if 1 were to make n trial
wouldn't put in too much blue"
"And what would it look like if Won
didn'tt''
Like nature, hope, and not like yours,
which might be taken for n bed of gentia-
nclla, or n sample of English cloth. or
anything you pleasc-except sky. beg
to assure you, for the tenth time, there is
too much bluen'
II tell you what, old gentleman, " cried
the insulted artist, crossing his maui stick
over his shoulder, and looking very fierce,
II dare say you are very worthy fellow
when you are Mt home, but you should
not be let out-alonc.n
"Nonsense!n exclaimed the critic MS he
snatched the palette from the painters
hand. You deserve to have your portrait
painted, to serve for the sign of the Elem
ish Asp In his Indignation he mount
ed the ladder with the activity of a boy
and began, with the palm of his hand, to
efface the chef d'muvre of Gerard Douw's
great-grandson' third cousin.
stop You old charlatan I" shouted the
latter You are running my sign! Why,
it's worth 30 francs. And, then, my rep
utation-lost gone forcvcrr'
He shook the ladder violently. to make
his prosecutor descend, but the latter, I'M
disturbed either by that or by the presence
of crowd of villagers, attracted by the
dispute, continued mercilcssly to blot out
the glowing landscape. Then, using mere
ly the point of his finger and the handle
of brush, he sketched, in mastery out
line, three Flemish Doors, with beer glass
es in their hands, drinking to the rising
sun, which appeared above the horizon,
dispensing the gloom of grayish morning
sky. One of the faces presented strong
and laughable caricature of the supplant-
ed sign painter. The spectators at first
were greatly disposed to take part with
their countryman against the intrusive
stranger What right had he to interfere?
There was no end to the impudence of
these foreigners
AS, however, they watched and grum-
bled the grumbling gradually ceased and
was turned into n murmur of appreciation
when the design became apparent. The
owner of the inn was the first to CRY
"Bravov' and even Gerard Douw's cousin
nine times removed felt his fury calming
down into admiration.
"Oh" he exclaimed, you belong to the
craft, honest man, and there's no use in
denying it. Yes, yes, " he continued, laugh
ing, as he turned toward his neighbors,
this is French sign painter, who wish
es to have jest with me- Well, must
frankly say he knows what he's about"
The Old man was about to descend from
the ladder, when a gentleman, riding q
beautiful English horse, made his way
through the crowd
"That painting is miner' he exclaimed
in French, but with foreign accent. 81
will give 100 guineas for it!'
"Another madman," exclaimed the ma
tive genius. Hang me, but all these for.
eigners are madp'
what do you mean, monsieur2" said
che innkeeper, uncommonly interested
"What l say will give 100 guineas
for that painting" answered the young
Englishman, getting off his horse.
"That picture is not to be sold," said
the sign painter, with an air OF as much
pride as if it had been his own work.
"No," quoth mine host, "for it is al
ready sold, and even partly paid for in nd
vance However, if monsieur wishes to
come to an arrangement about it, it is
with me that he must treat"
"Not Mt all, not at ALL" returned the
Flemish painter of signs, cit belongs to
me. My fellow artist here gave me a lit
tie help out of friendship, but the picture
Is my lawful property, and am at liberty
to sell it to any one please T"
"What roguery!' exclaimed the inn
keeper. My Rising Sun is my property.