Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-13

the exception Of space for a noble land
Ing. up to wnlrn, in dignined manner be
httlug a temple bf art, arose a broad flight
OF stone steps MAT replaced the ordinary
wooden stairway which had conteuted thc
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 baTn7roof appearance so neces,
sary to the production OF works of the
higher art. t.r
Barncy's mother objected to tho bare cold
ness OF the uncovered stone stairs Being in
side the house she said and not the steps
that led to the front door they should have a
carpet on them. Barney admitted that under
! ordinary circumstances this was so, and will
nEly offered to make certain concession
should 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
his mother that roll OF red carpet had
already been purchased, and was at that
| moment In tho closet under the stairs to be
| ready at a moments notice. 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 CraigenputtoGh
| house quite as celebrated in the world of art
as the Florontine gallery. he would follow
its precedent SO far as stairs We're con
| cerncd. There IL nothing like beginning
right.
On the ground floor were dining room and
kitchen; below that was n well-Glled cellar.
The hall was toned rich PoInpeian red. and
was lit by two windows of brilliant stained
glass which had been put in when the build
ing was 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
portion of a window in Cologne cathedral
| done in 1908. | placed them there tenn
| porarily, because | have been 50 busy that
| have not had time to design anything better
| myself, which L shall do later on, don't you
| know"
But of all the ornamental appenlages to
| this studio, perhaps the most Stril ing was
| Barney's ''maH" attired in livery Of blue,
! crimson, and silver, which was exc aeiingly
| effective r.
Although Barney had not had time to de-
sign staincd-gass window which would
| excel those of Cologne, he had been com
PEELED to sketch out this livery, for it was
| not thing that one could copy from abroad.
and the Hope family had not been estab-
| llshed long enough to have a recognized
| livery of its own. Nothing gives character
and dignity to a place so much as man"
sumptuously fitted out in a style that is
papably regardless of cost, and If it may
be plainly seen that tho man" performs
| no needful function whatever, then is the
effect heightened, for few human beings
attain the apex Of utter inutiity. The
great hotels of this country recognize the
| distinction reflected upon them by the pos
session OF a creature of splendor at their
| doors, who grandly watts the incoming
guests with hand wave toward the hall.
l'ut these persons Of establishment often
demean themselves by opening the doors or
cabs and performing other useful acts, thus
detracting from their proper function, which
yagtn tent
with being plere3g beautiful
When a Nhsitm; once complained that the
man at the top s9f the stair had refused to
direct him into the studio Barney laid his
right hand u friendly brotherliness on the
visitors shoulder and said:
'He knew, dear boy that / would dc
charge him Einstsntly If he so far forgot
himself as ta-ans&er a question
Then what is7he there for?" asked the
visitor, With some Indignation. Il don't
see the useaof him.
Quite. soss quite So" answered Barney
soothingly. Staf YOU did | would have to ge.
rid of him ard engage another and l can
assure you sthat, perfectly useless persons
SIX feet tw4sfn sbeight are not to be picked
up on evers strict corner. No dear boy.
they are hott | give you my word. People
are so unthinking that they will ask foolish
questions, intend to discourage this habit
what he is there for? Now. If had placed
a marble statue at the top of the stair YOU
wonid not have been offended II it 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 utiltarianism ought to be
welcomed by every thinking man, and If this
depiorably profcuOus country is ever to be
redeemed we artists must lead the way,
don't you see"
The grand individual at the head of the
Stars had his uses, nevertheless for when
Haldman and another accepting Barnevs
eHusiVely cordial invitation to attend one of
his 'at homes" entered the hall below and
saw this magnificent person standing like a
resp!endent statue before and above them
Haldiman glsped Great heavens!" and
Sropeu ms way out on the pavement again
toilowed by the no less astounded other who
was an artist also struggling along in the
black and white line. The two exchanged
glances when at safe distance from the
studio, pausing as they did so. Their
amazement was almost too great for words.
yet Haidiman remarked sOlemnly:
Il might have expected something Of that |
sort Imagine us dropping in there in these |
clothes Lucky escapel ! know a place
on the Kings road where there are fluids |
to drink Let us go there and see if we
can recover form this blow. o Barney |
Barney, what deeds are done i'm thy name"
SO the living statue silently warned off |
Barney's two Bohemian friends who are all |
right in Paris don't you know. but not at |
an ueslTaD!e Wnen man settles down to |
s9riou1 wcrk and expects nobility at his re- !
ceptions.
The calm dignity of Barney's "man" was
offset In a measure, by the energetic activity |
cf the boy in buttons, who threw open the
door with flourish Buttons" might be
likenel to a torpedo boat darting hther and
thither under the shadow of stately iron
clad. While the left hand of the small boy
opened the door the right swept up to his
cap in a semi-military salute that welcomed
the coming and sped the parting guest.
1t would be difficult to imagine a room
more suitable for an artistic function like
Barney's "at homes" than Barney's studio
The apartment was large. and it contained
many nooks and crannies that the Totenham
Court road furnsher had taken excellent adj
vantage of, There were neat little corners |
for two; there We're secluded alcoves fitted
with luxurious seats; there were most allur-
ing divans everywhere, and on the floor was
the sofest Of oriental rugs Eastern lamps
shed a subdued radiance over retired spots
that otherwise would have been dark and
wherever a curtain could hang curtain was
hung. Barney's most important works
framed in gold or silver or the natural wood
We're draped effectively, and to prevent the
nonartistic TdpdI from making fool of IT.
self by guessing at the subject, the name Of
each picture stood out in black letters on
the lower paftgef the frame. There We're
"Battereea Bgidge at Midnight" Chelsea in
a Fog" "Cheyne Row at Three A. NJ 4" and