Evening star., 1896-12-12

were taken away, huge square beams of
timber had been put in. and these gave the
ceiling of the roomy studio that barn-roof
appearance so necessary to the production
of works Of the higher art.
Barney's mother OBJECTED to the bare
coldness of the uncovered stone stairs. Be
ing inside the house, she said, and not the
steps that led to the front door, they should
have carpet on them. Barney admitted
that under ordinary circumstances this
was so, and willingly iefrered to make q
certain concession shunld the occasion
arise. If royalty visited him he would put
down the customary red carpet which the
feet of royalty were in the habit of treading
In fact, he admitted to this mother that A
roll of red carpet had already been nnr-
chased, and was at that moment in the
closet under the stairS. to be ready at a
moments notice. But for everyday wear
the steps should remain uncovered be-
cause the stone starways of the Pitt Pal
ace were always bare, and as Barney in
tended ultimately to make Craigenputtoch
House quite as celebrated in the world of
art as the Florentine gallery. he would fol-
lew its precedent so far as stairs were con-
cerned. There is nothing like beginning
right.
On the ground floor were dining room and
Kitchen; below that was a well-flIed eel
lar The hall was toned rich Pompeiian
red, and was lit by two windows of bril-,
liant stained glass which had been mt +,
when the building transformed from a
residence into a studio ''Oh, yes" Barney
would say, when he was complimented on
these windows, they are all very well In
their way, but not original, don't YOU
know; not original. No. they are simply
nicely executed copies of a portion of a
window In, 0Dlogne Cathedral done in 150S.
! paced them there temporarily, because 1
nave been so busy that l have not had
ome to design anything better myself.
which l shall do later on, don't YOU know
But of all the ornamental appendages to
Ihls studio, perhaps the most striking was
barneyS man., attired in livery of hlue
crimson and silver, which was exceedingly
effective.
Although Barney had not had time 70 do
sign a stained-gIass window which would
excei those OF Cologne, he had been com
PEELED to sketch out this livery. for If was
NOT thing that one could copy from
abroad. and the Hope family had not hean
established long enough to have a recop
nlzed livery of its own. Nothing gives
character and dignity to place so much as
q d. man al sumptuously fitted out in style
tnat Is palpably regardless of cost and If
II may be plainly seen that the man" per-
iorms no needful function whatever. then
is is the erect heightened, for few human be-
lnsS attain the apex of utter inutlitv Tho
great hotels of this country recognize the
olstinctlon reflected upon them by the nos
session OF creature Of splendor at their
ooors, who grandly watts the incoming
guests with hand wave toward the hall
BUT these persons of establishment often
demean themselves by opening the doors
OF CABS and performing other useful acts.
thus detracting from their proper function,
III.
themselves with being merely beautiful.
When visitor once complained that the
man at the top of the stair had refused to
direct him into the studio, Barney laid his
right hand in friendly brotherliness on the
visitors shoulder, and said
lie knew, dear boy, that 1 would dis
SiE charge him instantly If he so far forgot
hlmself as to answer question"
Then what is he there for?' asked the
visitor, with some indignation. II don't
see the use of him.
quite SO, quite So, answered Barney |
get rid Of him and engage another. and |
can assure you that perfectly useless per |
sons SIX feet two in height are not to be |
picked up on every street corner. No, dear |
boy, they are not, fgive you nv word |
People are so unthinking that they will ask |
fool1sh questions. l Intend to discourage |
this habit as much as possible. You want |
to know what he is there for? Now if l |
mad placed a marble statue at the ton of |
the stair you would not have been offended |
II 1t did not answer your query don't you |
know, and you would not have asked what |
1t was there for. don't you know There
are so many useful things In this world that |
something untainted with utilitarianism |
ought to be welcomed by every thinking |
man, and If this deplorably proficuous
country is ever to be redeemed we artists |
must lead the way. don't you see'
The grand individual at the head of the |
stair had his uses, nevertheless for when
haldiman and another. accepting Barney's |
OF his lat homes, entered the hall below
and saw this magnificent 2person standing
like a Respondent statue before and above
them, Hafdiman gasped Great heavens, |
and CROPPED his way out on the pavement |
again, followed by the no less astounded |
other, who was artist also struggling
along In the black and white line. The two
exchanged glances when at safe distance |
from the studio, pausng they did So |
Their amaZement was almost too great for |
words, yet Haldiman remarked solemnly: |
Il might have expected something of |
that sort Imagine us dropping in there in |
these clothes Lucky escape! l know a |
place on the Kings road where there are |
fluids to drink. Let us go there and see IL |
we can recover from this blow o. Barney, |
barney, what deeds are done in thy name.' |
So the living statue silently warned off |
Barneys two Bohemian friends; who are |
all right in Paris, don't you know but not |
at all desirable when a man settles down to |
serious work and expects nobility at his re-
ceptions.
The calm dignity .of Barney's man, was
offset in measure by the energetic activ- |
tty of the boy in buttons who threw open
the door with flourish. Buttons" might |
be Hkened to a torpedo boat, darting hither
and thither under the shadow of q stately |
ironclad. While the left hand of the small |
boy opened the door the right swept I'D TO |
his cap IN a semi-miitary salute that well |
coined the coming and sped the parting |
guest.
1t would be difficult to imagine a room |
more suitable for artistic function like |
Barney's "at homes than ,Barney's stu |
dio The apartment was large, and it con- |
tained many hooks and crannies that the |
Tottenham Court Road furnisher had taken |
excellent advantage of. There were neat |