The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-04-29

best After Tavernier died there was no
portrait of him, none 30 far as L could
learn. and / made crayon picture OF him
for the Bohemian Club. This portrait was
from photograph and my memory OF his
face. Il Is now in this club.
About that time L used to do some
thing, principally still lifes. which l liked
best, but l have not painted anything
lately. want to learn pen-and-ink work
for illustrating. and am sorry did not do
that instead of working in oils. One
thinks it is easy to make pictures for the
papers, but your work won't print unless
you understand how black and thick your
lines must be. 1t is crmbining artistic
with mechanical skill, which l found out
when making drawings for newspapers"
What has become OF your pictures ?"
was asked.
81 lost MANY Of them-missed them
don't know. They went from time to
time. Some / gave away, but others were
missed"
Beyond saying they were lost or missed
Paul could not be induced to give a more
definite answer. That they had disap-
peared seemed to have no interest for him
as he sets no money price on anything
not even his best efforI. the vase of
thistles with drapery hanging around,
years ago at the Art Association exhibition.
This painting is now owned by man on
Bush street. near Stockton, and Is valued
highly by him. Paul tells story about it
and laughs as he believes the incident a
ludicrous one.
THE picture was in an artists studio
here in town." said he, land one day a
lady called to look at the pictures with the
intention of buying something. The LADY
saw several things. but she took great
fancy to mine and wanted to get it. And
she would have taken it only the price
asked was too much for her purse.
Several OF my pictures are In houses
around San Francisco. but l only know
where few are. The next one paint
of Palo Alto ranch. l have the canvas
prepared and am ready to begin. but can
not get away from town until the Midwin-
ter Fair is over as / am employed in the
Art building by MIR. Stanton. | got out to
the fair every morning and find the pic
lures moro or less disturbed by visitors"
The artists who have known Paul since
he came to California give him credit for
being talented and clever In drawing and
coloring, but also for possessing an alb
normally developed weakness for taxing
the world easy, in which latter trait he
is simply sustaining the character of his
race. SO long as Paul can get decent
suit of clothes and enough to eat he is
completely satisfied with his lot.
The lack of desire in San Franciscans
has Influenced him to view the problem OF
living in a philosopbic way. Apart from
that he has only too freely imbibsd the
spirit of Bohemianism during his long CON-
nection with the careless fellows who gave
the Bohemian Club its peculiar character.
And now he has become a sort of mascot
or protege of the club. The artists give
him employment in vanishing, retouching
and cleaning old pictures In private colIec-
lions. and at this he is an expert. Paurs
mysterious cleansing fiuiG, which makes
dirty paintings look fresh and strong, is
nothing more nor less than the juice of
potatoes He cuts potato in two and
with the fat inner surfaces rubs the pic
ture lightly. The result is marvellous,
every particle Of dirt and discOloratiOn
passing away, while the paint is not af-
fected in the least. At other times ne is
occupied at the Art Academy or around
the studios in variOns capacities. and gen.
eralIv in work requiring knowledge of
painting. Between these acts it is his high
est delight to lounge upon an oriental
diyan and watch an artist wearing outgray
matter upon some canvas.
On such occasions. no doubt, he feels a
secret satisfaction over his success in
solving the problem previously mentioned
without resortiDg to wearisome brain
work or struggling to catch the bauble
called fame. Yet all his thoughts are not
turned in this one direction in idle inter-
walls. for Paul is steady reader, with
ideals in literature and no mean attain
ments. He is familiar with the great
authors. can talk by the hour about
poetry and novels. aud is always glad TO