The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14

then, Gibson had indulgent parents and
all the comforts that fair fortune brings.
His parents bought picture books by the
dozen for him; while poor Emile would
go into an eestacv of delight if he could
only behold the splendidly colored pages
OF Just one of those big paper-backed books
that are sold for a very small amount in
the stores. Gibson had pictures to
draw from and a governess to instruct
! him in the rudiments of art; while Crapu
! Ghetto must catch in his minds eye the
picture OF the srreetcar as it speeds by or
OF the railway engine as it rushes across
! the street and disappears in the distance
that swallows up the noise of the wheels
and the sound of bell and whistle. Crapu-
Ghetto must be his own tutor and he must
copy moving life or nature for his pictures.
/ Gibson had fine paper in plenty, while
Emile must use the public sidewalk in lieu
of paper or run the risk of bringing down
the maternal wrath by defacing the walls
which tempt his pencil by their inviting
whiteness. Gibson had the aid OF indul-
gent wealth; Crapuc bette the drawbacks
of denying and discour aging poverty.
/ Why may not Emile Crapuchette some
day outshine the fame of Gibson since the
genius of the former is, even in the child
Of 4, making itself known in spite of con-
ditions that put distinctions in his path?
If Gibson at was gold that called for re-
filming, surely Crapuchette at 4 is a dia-
mond uncut.
Emile may be seen upon almost any
sunny afternoon playing about the door of
the laundry at 1907 Folsom street. He
goes bareheaded always and is usually
dressed in a check apron and brownie
overalls. He isn't beautiful, but is won
derfully bright. His brilliant brown eyes
show keen intelligence. His complexion
Is light, and rather fat nose mars the
regularity of his features When a
CALL man found him yesterday he was
sketching a steam-engine on the sidewalk,
and near him was box of colored crayons
with which some kindly interested and
generous person had supplied him.
my boy, who showed you how to make
the picture of the steam-engine asked
the newsgatherer.
mo one show me, answered the child,
with decidedly French accent. 81 see it
all the time go BY"
Then, while the amused quill-driver
looked on Emile drew the of China
]
then made fac-simile in blue and white
/ of the sign above the laundry door, While
the child worked a fuzzy-coated dog sat
near him, watching every movement of
the hand that moved the chalk, as if the
canine really knew what the picture was
intended to be. The dog, by the way, is
Emile's only street friend. The baby
artist has no child companions, and when
| H. IL
self. The dogs picture may be found in a
number of places on the walls of the in
terror of the laundry, and, it should be
added, the pictures bear fair resemblance
to each other as well as to the cur.
The onlooker made few marks on the
sidewalk.
'What you do2" quickly inquired
Emile.
"That is a hand,' was the explanation.
The child laughed with unfeigned merri-
ment. THAT is not hand" he cried.
"Here is how to make hand" And with
that he made an excellent outline of a
hand on the boards upon which he was
kneeling.
One day negro stepped into the laun-
dry on business, and while the ebony
faced man stood by the counter Emile
| took some cake from the box near the
stove, broke it into powder with the end
OF a flatiron and worked it around on the
floor with his fingers until he had pro-
duced a profile study of a negro's head
Some of the neighbors saw the achieve
ment and showered praises on Emile, but
as soon as Nine. Crapuchette was olsen
gagged from some business that had re-
quired her undivided attention she
grabbed broom and dustpan, and, after
sweeping away the negro profile of black
dust, cuffed Emile's ears and warned him
never TO be caught in the act of soiEng the
floor like that again. Thus is genius
hampered at 1907 Folsom street.
If Emile Crapuchette attracts attention
and wins applause at 4, what will he not
be- in the world of art, If he perseveres
and progresses until he is 20? If ever
there was "born artist" there is one
surely in the California born child of
French parents, whose very poverty has
been the means of converting the sidewalk
into drawing table, making a studio of
the street with sky for ceiling, and thus
attracting the attention of thousands,
among whom some patron may yet be
found who will use money and influence
to the end that Emile Crapuchette may
have such educational advantages as his
peculiar natural bent demands.
The average weight of the brain in
va rious nationaIitieS annears from tho in.