Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-06-07
HIS MASTERPIECE.

u
by Jove!' they cried unanimously.
What masterpiece! How beautiful"
Thompson felt lump in his threat and
could scarcely murmur: Truly, truly,
you are not joking? You are in downright
earnestt"
His friends protested with many gestures
of enthusiasm. Joking indeed. We are
in downright earnest Frankly and with
out Partially 1t is the finest statue we ever
saw"
Thompson hesitatcd and then demand
ed modestly, You have no criticism to
make?"
To which they replied in chorus,
"None"
One, however, probably seized with a
burning desire TO distinguish himself, haz
ardcd in timid voice, Only one, Thomp-
son, only one-no moro.
Thompson turned pale, and the severe
friend added with smile, "A tritling
criticism really
"Wbat is it," faltercd the sculptor.
1T is too fine.
And his companions all echoed tho sem
timent. True, true We were going to
say the same ourselves. 1t is too fine"
Tears came to Thompson's eyes as he re-
fine. Perhaps it is. But there, one does
what he can. y
The friends departed, shaking Thomp
sons hand warmly. The sculptor exhibit
ed his masterpiece, convinced that it would
revolutionize the whole artistic world, ii
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, it was wholly indifferent.
The artistic world behaved exactly like the
mob.
This is very strange" quoth Thomp-
son. And in Il condition of extreme de-
spondcncy he sent again for his friends.
1--WE told you so, you know" said they
in unison.
Tho deuce you did," faltercd poor
Thompson.
Yes, we said it was too fine. "
''Dcar me, but that ism u fault, Is itf'
The friends burst into laugh.
well, Thompson, you are green, and
no mistake. y
Again the tears came to Thompson's
eyes.
go on, go on, said he. Tell me what
am to do then"
Hero one of the group who had not
spoken whispered into Thompson's car;
1--WE don't mind giving you point or
two-at least don't. But these are little
matters which must be done in private
separately"
II understand, ~ said Thompson CRATE
fully So the sculptor sent to tho gallery
for his statue, resolved to demand of each
of his friends separately what there was
about II that was especially too fine.
Tho first conner a baldheaded man, ex-
amined the work anew carefully. Your
statue" said he, has most ridiculous
head of hair. 1t looks to me very much
like n wig. People don't have hair like
that. 1t is absurd Look at my head"
Thompson could not deny the force of
this reasoning. He swept off the flowing
locks with n few strokes of his chisel and
polished the Uranium of his masterpiece
after the fashion of the living model before
him.
"Splendid'' cried the baldheaded man.
The second to turn up was n knock
kneed party.
Your statue, Thompson" said he, lis
fitted with most prepostcrously straight
legs. Such an absolutely vertical line is
inadmissible Where have you ever seen
legs like thosef Not on me, for example
And you know, old fellow" he added,
reality before all. "
Thompson groaned. He seized his chisel
followed out the neither limbs-in fact,
from tho legs of Apollo he managed to
make pretty fair copy of those of his
friend.
"Bravo!" declared the knockkneed man.
The third was n one armed man. Look
here Thompson" he said confidentially,
between you and me, two arms are all
very well. Arms are all right In their
place, but think of the Venus dc Milo"
"Yes," objected Thompson, II know.
The Venus dc Milo has no arms now, but
you don't mean to assert that she never
had any,"
"I do indeed. All, what daring genius
was her SCULPTOR
mot more than IT. cried the excited
Thompson With a 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.
mo, no. Not too much zeal. Not too
much imitation either. One will do, l as
sure you.
You think sou said Thompson.
ALL Silt vi ~ lIspoIId'u VIC oiiS
armed man.
And SO on with half a dozen other
friends One found fault with the nose,
whose own was broken. A cripple and
great poet asked pleasantly:
snow, whatever use are those legs at
allY"
Thompson gaspcd:
why, to hold him up"
Nonsense l haven't got any such
things You don't hear me complain of
not being held up.
Thompson saw the point. BY this time
the statue was little more than shapeless
block of marble. The last of Thompson
friends was an Ethiopian, highly cult
waited and appreciativc person.
"A fine .,'ece Of work, > said he, very
fine indeed But the color Is unbearable."
Thompson covered the statue with
coating of black paint
The following day the friends all came
to the studio in q body. They were en-
chanted. Again the statue was put on OK.
hibition.
Magnificent Mystic Wonderfull'
cried the public. They thronged the gal
lery from morning till night.