The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-13
CHAPTER TX.

buildings of one story, with many doors
in front, and great broadsides of win
dows at the back, multi-Daned win
dows, letting in from the north the
light that artists love. line these thor
oughfares, which Barney in his jocular,
offhand manner called aurora
borealis' streets, because, as he al
ways explained, they were so full OF
northern lights
Such studios were all very we'll for
! the ordinary, everyday artist who ex-
hibited at the Royal Academy and
places of that sort but painter with
a soul, and, incidentally, a reliable
bank account, desired something better
than one of these barns, so Barney had
taken house and fitted il up to meet
his requirements. Craigenputtoch
] House, as Barney called it, in tardy
recognition of the genius of Thomas
] Carlyle, was building of three stories
standing back from the street in
grounds of its own. The rooms on the
upper floor were allowed to remain as
they were, and gave Barney bedrooms
for himself and his friends; his hos
/ pltality being unique and unlimited
All the partitions on the first floor had
been torn away, so that this portion
of the house was formed into
one vast apartment, with the exception
of space for a noble landing, up 10
WHICH,, III QlSHliteQ MANNER DGUltlQR 4
| temple of art, arose a broad flight Of
stone steps that replaced the ordinary
wooden stairway which had contented
the former occupants of the house To
afford the support necessary for the
upper floor, now that the partitions
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
nf Of ~
higher art.
Barney's mother objected to the bare
GOODNESS of the uncovered stone stairs.
Being inside the house, she said, and
not the steps that led to the front door.
they should have q. carpet on them
Barney admitted that under ordinary
circumstances this was so. and will
lngly offered to make a certain con-
cession should the occasion arise If
royalty visited him, he would put down
the customary red carpet which the
feet of royalty We're in the habit of
treading. In fact, he admitted to his
mother that roll of red carpet had
already been purchased, and was at
that moment in the closet under the
stairs, TO be ready at moments no
tice. But for every day wear the steps
should remain uncovered. because the
stone stairways of the Pitt palace were
always bare, and, as Barney intended
ultimately TO make Craigenputtoch
house quite as celebrated in the world
of art as the Florentine gallery, he
would follow its precedent so far as
stairs were concerned. There is moth
ing like beginning right
On the ground floor were dining-room
and kitchen: below that was a we'll
filled cellar. The hall was toned a
rich Pompeiian red. and was lit by two
windows of brilliant stained glass,
which had been put I'm when the build
ing was transformed from a residence
into studio. "Oh. yes" Barney would
say, when he was complimented on
in their way. but not original. don't
you know; not original No, they are
simply nicely executed copies of a por-
ton of window in Cologne cathedral
done in 1908. | placed them there tenn
porarily. because l have been so busy
that I have not had time to design
anything better myself. which I shall
do later on, don't you know"
But of all the ornamental appendages
to this studio, perhaps the most strik-
ing was Barney's man" attired in a
livery of blue crimson and silver, which
was exceedingly effective.
Although Barney had not had time
to design a stained-glass window
which would excel those of Cologne, he
iidu DetH COIlDell6Q 10 SKETCH out tllS
livery, for it was not thing that one
could copy from abroad, and the Hope
family had not been established long
enough to have a recognized livery of
its own. Nothing less gives character
and dignity to a place such as a
man sumptuously fitted out in a
style that is palpably regardless of
cost. and if it may be plainly seen that
the man" performs no needful func-
wi ! M toy har, fe- Ea off hofr
ened, for a few human beings attain
the apex of utter inutility. The great
hotels of this country recognize the
distinction reflected upon them by the
possession of a creature of splendor at
their doors. who grandly watts the in
coming guests with a hand wave to-
ward the hall. But these persons of
establishment often demean them
selves by opening the doors of cabs
and performing other useful acts. thus
detracting from their proper function
which was, Barney insisted, to content
themselves with being merely beauti-
full
When visitor once complained that
the man at the top of the stair had re-
fused to direct him into the studio,
Barney laid his right hand in friendly
brotherliness on the visitors shoulder
and said:
He knew, dear boy, that I would
discharge him instantly if he so far
forget himself as TO answer a ques- |
tion''
Then what is he here for?" asked
the visitor. with some Indignation. Il
don't see the use of him.
Quite so, quite So" answered Bar |
ney, soothingly. IF you did would |
have to get rid of him and engage an /
other, and / can assure you that per- |
fectly useless persons six feet two in |
height are not to be picked up on every |
street corner. No, dear boy. they are !
not; l give you my word. people are |
so unthinking that they will ask fool
ish questions. l intend 70 discourage |
this habit as much as possible. You
want to know what he is there for?
Now if I had placed marble statue at
the top of the stair you would not
your query, don't you know. and you
would not have asked what it vas
there for. don't you know. There are
so many useful things in this world
that something untainted with util-
tarianism ought to be welcomed by
every thinking man, and If this de-
perficuouS 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 effusively cordial invitations
% attend one of his "at homes,'' en-
cred the hall below and saw this mag
lificent person standing like a re-
;plendent statue before and above
hem, Haldiman gasped. Great Heav-
snsi" and CROPPED his way out on the