Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-02-07
HIS MASTERPIECE.
Why Crimes Never Finished His
Picture of Christ.

building on Washington square was
N p Gummidge-fancy painter with
q name such as that!-portIalts. BIT
IN reality he painted religious sub
jects, such as Moses Shifting the Rock,
Noah Contemplating the Ark, Lazarus
In the Tomb-things black with lumber
and bitumen and dreadful In drawing.
II was curious and pathetic figure
that presented itself every morning
and mounted the stairs TO the upper
floor, where werc the studios in that
portion OF the Old University building
Which had previously served as the
chapel A figure in long, well-worn
gray coat, with pail OF water in one
hand and parcel wrapped in yellow
grocer's paper in tie other A figure
surrounded by patrlarchal head
covered with silk hat OF ancient
model that had evidently been recent
ly wiped with wet cloth-so disrep-
utably shiny was its luster.
Beneath its faded brim shone kindly
youthful eyes His manners were those
Of the old school. Unfailingly polite
and considerate even to the ill-man-
nercd jgnitor, who never lost the OPP
portunity OF bullying him. From laugh
Ing rat him struggling up the steep stairs
with his pail of water, we finally got
to helping him by turns, and so gained
his confidence and friendship
"you young fellows he would say,
az some one Of US assumed his burden
at the bottom OF the stairs-"you
Young fellows are away ahead OF me.
can't understand your rainbow co.,
ors can't do it. ! am trying to
catch up to you-but it's like chasing
the will-o'.the-wisp My things are SO
dark. Yours are so light and freshi
light with sunlight and fresh as air.
But all the same don't like them'
they are too dazzling. | can't see old
Mother Nature in that lght--but am
at something now that will astonish
YOU, think. mol won't show 1t un-
til | carry out my idea, then perhaps
the world-but wait--lll show you my
Lazarus, If you like. Come in and see
1t. like it. I've got something in II
that il fine"
Then the pathetic figure, with Its
one shoulder higher than the other
would lead us into the studio, thick
with dust Uttered with his cooking
utensils, brushes, pans, bottles ana
immense canvases - would bid us be
scated with old-fashioned courtesy,
apologizing for the state Of his apart
mont and cxcusing Its disorder BY dig
niacd imprecations upon certain
mythical person who had not arrived
that morning to put his place in order
1t was both ludlcrous and pathetic
to see him take up his palette and
brushes, and strike an attitude before
his wrctchcd studies, which were both
out Of drawing and Of atrocious color
"What do you think Of that bit OF
color, gentlemen? Don't you think
that pretty good, eli? That check,
now; find something indescribably
beautiful in that-its freshness, IL you
lIkc-and in the culver of Marys lip
that's Mary--no no, not that one
here, that others the Masdalen
Now, | think that Bit of color,
ch? quivers, don't it, eh? q
master stroke. Now where would
Won send it, ell? To the 8 A. A.,
or the N. A. Dr. You know that |
have not sent anything in so long that
perhaps they have forgotten me. 50
he voull stand, wagglng his head
from side to side, making all the tine
a smackins noise with his lips, as If he
tasted the faneied delicious qualities
OF the color, he had laid on.
But my figure of Christ, ba, ha'
None OF you young fellows have seen
that There it stands behind that
drapcry No, no one shall see 1t until
have completed it. All want is the
face-the lace-all else Is finished
want model for the face. Grand aaa
beautiful it is But ! want the lace
When that is finished I'll show it
twill be Gummidgc's masterpiece
Twill be as famous-well, never mine
YOU young fellows cannotunderstane
enthusiasm us understand it, Iot
are content; and, mind you, feel fol
what you are doing-your llgltnea!
aad brightness, and all that; bnt fee
also that you want largeness o
. thou 1t, 50 wen not quarrel You'll
do your eli cts, your impressions, AM
m admire them and stick to my owl
methods Now must finish my st
Peer Tor yourexhibltion; so get a ont
With You all, ana God bless You"
, The last day for the collection o
pictnres Tor the exhibition would AZ
rive and Had Old Grimes In state o
, few irish excitement, walking up an
down the hall lie would aecompan.
the porters down the long stairs wit
oae hand on the frame OF his awiu
daub Of picture, brushing away loS
inry, now and then, some fancie
PARTICLE Of dust, and again suidin
= the men around some sharp turn Q
the stairs for fear that tho fran
would be injured, and finally follow
i lag its course with eager eye
; as it was placed in the van wit
Others bound for the academy
Poor Old Grimesl His pictures a
ways came back to him, refused b
the jury Great Scott Boys, loo
here-another Grlmesl" would b
1 heard at the academy as the hug
+. black canvas was brought up tn
4. steps AMI it would be prompt
stopped then and there, and sent b.
low with a mark on its back, in re
chalk
+ And so 1t was. year by year Jurit
4 came and went, but Old Grimes ca
= ried in his pail of water winter an
/, summer, and painted on.
r We never referred to the pictul
|. after II was placed in the van
/ came back to him in due season, but
4 passed By closed studio doors-elost
out Of respect Tor the feelings OF U
y Grimes, who for u period thereaft'