The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-24
"a HERO" TN CLAY.
Why Bob Bannister Destroyed His
~ Best Bit Of Work.

1t was the luckiest hit old Bannister
had ever made. How he did it nobody
knew. He didn't even know himself.
1.-THE thing seemed to grow under
my hands," he would say, quietly,
land | had no idea that it was any
thing better than my usual work, until
! had finished it and came to look at it
as whole, then"
There was no doubt about it, he had
never before done anything to equal
it. 1t was rather large statuette of
an ancient warrior, delicately mod
eled in clay-a slender, sinewy look
ing figure, the head thrown gracefully
back, one foot slightly advanced, a
short sword clasped in the uplifted
right hand and round shield poised
firmly before his breast.
Bobs chief ambition was to be a
great sculptor-to do some great work
that should bring him wealth for the
present and fame for. all time. But
by degrees he narrowed his ambition
down until he came to look for moth
ing from art but the means of living
in reasonable comfort from day to
day.
Bob's particular crony and brother
in art, Alfred Maiden, was man some
five years older than himself. The
two men had met rather more than
twenty years before, and had been
the closest of friends ever since. They
rented ii small studio between them
on the highest floor of a tall building
in the vicinity of Oxford street. They
had even shared the same apartments
together in a respectable boarding
house in Mecklenburg square, until
Maiden was married and became the
owner of small residence at Pad
dington.
1t was past nine o'clock at night, and
the two men sat by the freside of their
studio, smoking last pipe apiece be-
fore going home. Grouped about them
in grotesque confusion were numerous
half-fnished and finished clay models,
busts of all manner of real and ideal
men and women, and all the miscel-
laneous litter Of a sculptor's work.
room; on the walls hung medallions
and base reliefs of all shapes and sizes,
crayon sketches and a number of pic
lures in oils. and water colors. But
the most conspicuous object of all
standing on all imposing pedestal in the
center Of the room-was Bob's latest
work, his masterpiece, his Hero" in
clay.
"Certainly." said Bob, regarding his
work complaccntly, and speaking with
a slow, metitative drawl, between
dreamy whitfs at his pipe, ''it's the
only thing I've ever done that feel
tempted to be proud Of, and, as you
say, goodness only knows how l man.
aged to do it so we'll. But there it is.
I've done it, and really do think Pm
entitled to be Il little proud of it, eh?"
"Of course" responded Maiden
respectfully when you con-
slider that rumor of it has caused
real live marquis to come up and look
at it, and to be so taken with it as to
say he will even buy it,
"Now, Alt, Alfv' cried Bannister,
.&.-......>. = 4. ~. a.
"Fact!' said Maiden, shortly. mo
man gives money fora thing unless he
thinks it's worth his money" -.
"Well, of course, I'm pleased to have
q purchaser in prospect. Anyone
would be-
"Undoubtedly," grumbled Maiden;
"but it isn't anyone who is lucky
enough to gcta purchaser who may be
the mr;'', Producing him to An
sristo". tion."
Ban I'd thoughtfully into
the iii nothing.
II ..w such thing" Maiden
went little bitterly. "You have
Eli IT, c';. l can't understand it.
people ~e?,n to think that my work is
better than yours as a general thing,
YET yo1 always sell easier than l do
and get higher prices. It's luck. Sheer
luck!"
"Well, it does seem little hard on
you, ALT, old man"
"Oh, we'll, you needn't keep on crow
ing over fellow" interrupted NAL
len, testify.
"Why," said Bob, looking grievous-
y shocked, Il was never dreaming of
LONG such thing. was only going
70 say may be able to find opportuni-
lies of intr oducing Won to people who
will recognize your worth, and"
"Ha, ha! laughed Maiden. dismally.
IT'S very good of you to say So now,
out Bob Bannister, Esquire, sculptor
n ordinary to his high mightiness, the
most noble marquis of Finchington,
,asking in the patronage of other
noneyed and titled gentry, will be
much too great person to remember
DOOR, luckless, threadbare Alt NAL
lem"
"Alf!' cried Bannister, earnestly,
you can't think I'm such mean
,umbug as that! If am only to be
ortunate at the expense of losing
he oldest-the only friend have
lang it! hope l never may be FORUM
tie at all!'
You say SO now, old boy. It's good
# you to say So" said ALT, dejectedly.
But change of circumstances alters
mes opinions wonderfully. In any
ase, how do you suppose I, your senior
n years, who have been working
onger and harder than you, could sub
ait to the humiliation of being patron