The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-07
CRITICISM.


If that isn't the finest thing ever cut out
Of a block Of marble, I'm q Dutchmani"
Thompson 3 friends came and were prop
erly transported with pleasure.
by JoVei' they cried unanimously.
''What masterpiece How beautiful
Thompson felt lump ia his throat and
could scarcely murInur: Truly, truly,
you are not joking You are in downright
earnestg''
His friends protested with many gestures
Of enthusiasm. Joking indeedl We are
IN downright earnest. Frankly and with
out Partially At As the finest statue we ever
saw
Thompson hesitated and then demanded
modestly, Xon have no criticism to
To which they replied in chorus.
''None."
One, however, probably seized with
burning desire to distinguish himself haz-
arded IN timid voice, 81 Only one, Thomp-
son. only one-no more. %
Thompson turned pale and the severe
friend added, with smile, a triding
criticism really
What is itP'' faltsred the sculptor.
''It is too fine.
And his companions all echoed the sen
timent. True true. We were going to
say the same ourselves. It Is too fine"
Tears came to Thompsonls eyes as he re-
sponded: Yes You are right It Is too
fine. Perhaps 1t is. But there-one does
what he can,
The friends departed. shaking Thomp-
sons hand warmly. The sculptor exhibit
ed his masterpiece, convinced that 10 would
revOlutiODize the whole artistic world, il
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 absolute
ly 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 q condition Of extreme de-
spondency he sent again for his friends.
eve told you so you know, - said they
in unison.
"The deuce you did" faItered poor
Thompson
Yes we said it was too fine.
Dear me, but that isn't a fault, IS itP''
The friends burst into a laugh
well, Thompson you arc green and no
mistake"
Again the tears came to Thompson's
eyes.
go on. 60 on, said he. ''Ten me what
7 am to do then
Here one Of the group who had not
spoken whispered into Thompson's ear:
''We don't mind giving you point or
two-Rt least + don't But these are little
matters which must be done In private
separately.
II understand. y said Thompson CRATE
fully. So the sculptor sent to the gallery
for his statue, resolved to demand OF each
Of his friends separately what there was
about it that was especially too fine.
The first conner, a baldheaded man, ex-
amined the work anew carefully Your
statue, " said he, ''has a most ridiculous
head of hair. It looks to me very much
like q wig. People don't have hair ike
that. 1t is absurd Look at my head .
Thompson could not deny the force Of
this reasoning. He swept OF the flowing
locks with a few strokes of his ohisel and
polished the Uranium Of bis masterpiece
after the fashion Of the living model be
fore him.
.'Splendidl'' cried the baldhsaded man
The second to turn up was knock
kneed party
your statue, Thompson, - said he lis
fitted with most PROFESSIONALLY straight
legs. Such an absolutely vertical line Is
inadmissible Where have you ever seen
legs like those2 Not on me, for example
And you know, old fellow" he added,
reality before all n
Thompson groaned- He seized his chisel,
followed out the neither lmbs-iD fact,
from the legs Of Apollo he managed to
make pretty fair copy Of those OF his
friend
Bravop' declared the knockkneed man.
here, Thompson, p he said confdensial1y,
between you and me- two arms are all
very well Arms are all right in their
place, but think of the Venus de A6ilOi'
Eyes, - objected Thompson, Il know.
The Venus de Milo has no arms, now, but
you don't mean to assert that she never
had any2"
Il do, indeed. All. what daring gen
ius was her sculptorr'
mot more than IP' 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 bhs left in
the same fashion when his friend stopped
him
's1o, no. Not too much zeal Not too
much imitation either One vTi4sdo, as
sure you.
You think sop said Thompson.
II am sure Of it, z responded the one
armed man.
And SO On with half a dozen otherfriends.
One found fault with the nose, whose own
was broken A cripple and a greet poet
asked pleasantly:
all''
Thompson gasped:
why, to hold him up. "
Nonsense. I 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 a shapeIess
block Of marble The last Of Thompson's
friends was an Ethiopian, highly cult
waited and appreciative person.
So A fine piece Of work =" said he, livery
fine indeed. But the color is unbearable y
Thompson covered the statue with a
coating Of black paint.
The following day the friends all came
to the studio in body. They were en-
chanted- Again the statue was put on ex-
hibition.
Magnificent Nysticl Wonderfulf'
cried the public They thronged the gal
la,v from 1lo,rnsr,cr nil NIGHT