Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1894-03-16
TOO MUCH BLUE.

ODJttb VI llltTtSl ludI caught Ills eye, ana
at length stopped to inspect the operations
of a painter who, mounted on a ladd sr
placed against the front of a wayside inn,
was busily employed in depicting a sign
suitable to its name, The Rising Sun.
"Here, - said the old man to himself,
"is an honest dauber who knows as much
of perspective as "A cart horse, and who,
I'll warrant, fancies himself a Rubens.
How he br ishes in that ultramarine 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 on
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 bluel''
The honest painter looked down from his
perch, and said in that tone of forced
calmness which an angry man sometimes
ssumes
"Monsieur does not perceive that / am
painting "A sky"
ooh, yes. | see very well you are trying
to paint a sky, but | tell you again there
is too much blue!''
did you ever see skies painted without
blue, Master Amateur"
81 am not an amateur. | merely tell
you, in passing-I make the casual re-
mark-that there is too much blue. but
do as you like. Put on more blue, if you
don't think you have troweled on enough
already"
"But l tell you that | want to represent
a clear blue sky at sunrise"
"And ! tell you that no man in his
senses would make a sky at sunrise blue"
by st. Gudula, this is too muchl'' ex-
claimed the painter, coming down from
his ladder, at no pains this time to con
ceal his anger. 81 should like to see how
you would paint skies without blue"
81 don't pretend to much skill in sky
painting, but if l were to make a trial /
wouldn't put in too much blue"
"And what would it look like if you
didn't"
"Like nature, hope, and not like yours,
which might be taken for a bed of gentia-
nella, or a sample of English cloth, or
anything you p-lease-eXcept "A sky. | beg
to assure you, for the tenth time, there is
too much blue!',
81 tell you what, old gentleman" cried
s'N ~ fi Ai'Ns tlO-Slilk HIS Iliul SUCK
over his shoulder, and looking very fierce.
II dare say you are a very worthy fellow
when you are at home, but you should
not be let out-alone."
NONSENSE exclaimed the critic as he
snatched the palette from the painters
hand You deserve to nave your portrait
painted, to serve for the sign of the'FIem
ish Asp In his Indignation he mount
ed the adder with the activity of a boy
and began, with the palm of his hand, to
efface the chef d'Guvre of Gerard Douw's
great-grandson's third cousin.
stop! You old charlatan ~ shouted the
latter. "You are running my signl Why,
it's worth 35 francs. And, then, my rep
~utation-lost! gone forever!'
He shook the ladder violently, to make
his prosecutor descend, but the latter, un-
disturbed either by that or by the presence
OF a crowd OF villagers, attracted by the
dispute, continued merciiessly to blot out
the glowing landscape. Then, using mere
ly the point of his finger and the handle
OF a 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 a grayish morning
sky. One of the faces presented a 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 interfereY
There was no end to the impudence of
these foreigners.
AS, however, they watched and grum-
bled the rumbling gradually ceased and
was turned into "A 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.
"OhP' 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 n%eighbors.
this is a French sign painter, who wish
es to have a 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 "A
English horse, made his way
through the crowd.
THAT painting is Miner he exclaimed
In French, but with a foreign accent. 81
will give 100 guineas for itP'
Another madman,' exclaimed the ma.
wv 6Nhiu9' Aidik He, DuL HI THESE Tor
are madr'
What do you mean, monsieur" said
the innkeeper, uncommonly interested.
What say will give 100 guineas
that painting, answered the young
getting off his horse.
THAT picture is not to be sold" said
the sign painter, with an air of as much
pride as If ii had been his own work.
mo-" quoth mine host, "'for it is al
ready sold, and even partly paid for in ad-
vance. However, if monsieur wishes to
to an arrangement about it., it is
with me that he must treat"
"Not at all, not at all, h" returned the
Flemish painter of signs, ait belongs TO
My fellow artist here gave me a lit.
tie help out of friendship, but the picture
Is my lawful property, and l am at liberty
to sell 1t to any one ! please "
"Wbat rogueryp' exclaimed the inn
"'My Rising Sun is my property.
on the wall of my house, how
can it belong to anybody elsei Isn't 1t