Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-04-22
A: GIFT: OF THE GOODS

n DWARD HARDY, an artist OF
much promise, and his friend
Alfred Moore. the art critic OF
the Planet, were smoking in the stu
do OF the former. 1t was q delight
ful morning, with the sun streaming
INTO the room, and through the open
windows came the hum Of the streets
heermingied with the chirping OF
birds.
by George. Hardy" suddenly Moore
burst out. as he dropped upon a chair.
with his eyes fixed in wonder on q
painting In front Of him 'surely this
ls product OF a master handI I've
never seen you working at it?'
NO." answered the artist. 1--WE done
It in the strictest privacy; It's been a
labor Of love to me for the last three
years; since, in fact, l began an artis-
tic career. It's finished now. and l
feel as II l had lost something out of
my life"
painter Of genius. old man." said the
critic, with genuine appreciation. II
haven't seen such a work of talent for
many a long day. You must send it
to the academy; there are still three
days left for submitting pictures to
the hanging committee. l make bold
to prophesy that it will be the painting
Df the year"
The picture In question was rather
large one hanging in the center of the
wall, Immediately behind the artists
easel. When at work he had but to
raise his eyes to catch sight of the
"rara avis" which he had christened
The Dawn Of Love" 1t represented
q beautiful girl Of tall and stately fig
ure, seated, lost in thought, In front
Of the fire in her room, whittier she
had come from the ballroom. indicated
by her flushed cheeks and the uniform
Of the dance in which she was dressed.
Her sparkling eyes betokened the kim
ding Of q fame within her heart to
which 1t had hitherto been a stranger,
and one did not need to look twice at
her face to understand that Cupid had
ahot one OF his arrows with unerring
aim that night In her Imagination
she was still tripping through the dance
with her partner-the man who had
brought ''the dawn Of love" to her
soul
After much persuasion the painter
Agreed to submit 1.-THE Dawn Of Love"
to Burlington house, and they proceed
Cd to pack the precious work OF art.
A few hours later they personally de-
uvered 1t at the Mecca of the knights
Of the palette and the brush.
MAY had again dawned on a waiting
and thankful world, and all who were
cOnspicuOus in the worlds of beauty,
brains and business crowded the gal
leries Of the Royal Academy at the
-private view" Progress amid such
. thrOng became nigh impossible. and
round some particular exhibit, so that
for several minutes all movement was
completely stopped.
"Halloa, Hardyr exclaimed Alfred
Moore, who just then ran against the
artist meandering through the show
rooms, you're the Inckiest dog alive!
You and your picture are the one theme
Of art talk I got the merest peep at
your gem awhile back, but 1t was SO
hotly besieged that 1 was forced to
retreat"
Il never dreamed there existed such
Snthusiasm for art" murmured the
Daintsr, now evidently much excited.
sSurely 1t is phenomenal"
Mot moro 30 than the phenomenA
naturs Of the work demands" re-
sponded tho other. ITS most for
tunats that your personality L. un-
known; otherwise you would almost
b mobbed and killed by kindness
enc Of tho penalties Of success"
-Jingoi it's hot In here" exclaimed
Hardy, wiping his forehead. "We'n
lunch at the Cafe Royal on the strength
Of what tAe gods havo sent me-fame,
and perhaps fortune"
And they left the Temple Of Art for
The more prosaic surroundings Of the
restaurant
Enclosed I bog to hand you check
Ase f6OO, at the request Of the purchas-
q. In payment for your painting. ''The
Dawn Of Love-" So ran the formal
latter from the secretary Of the acad-
eny, and as he read 1t the young ar
eises heart beat wildly with legitimate
pride.
AT last" he cried. II have got over
DE barrier that ever has to be climbed
ere genius receives Its due acknowl-
elgment But who's my patron7" and
he took up the cheque; 1t was signed
r. <hn
tleman," continued H. 'dy, pouring out
his second cup of coffee.
Then he read his other correspond.
ence-an offer Of $1,000 for his next
picture, and three letters from deal
ers" anxious to be his middlemen. The
latter epistles ha cast on one slide. re-
serving the others for replies. Break
fast over, Hardy thought he would
look Moore up. SO, lighting a cigar and
putting the two letters In his pocket
ha set out for his friends chambers
In the Temnle. |
The toui alist was writing an article
on .'Picty.es and Painters Of the Pc
Rod" for the Week, a high-class pa
per, whose opinions were much priced
by people of light and leading. Moore
looked up smiling az the painter en-
,ered the sanctun-
Just the man 1 wanted to see,
aaid he, putting down his pen; what
40 you think of thisY' and forthwith
read:
".rhe present exhibition Of the Roy
nj academy will ever stand out promi' !
nently in the annals Of British art ae
,he one that introduced to the world the
greatest painter Of genius since Sir
Joshua Reynolds finally laid down mis-
hrush- This Is no mere "high-falutin,
INIT II simply placing ON record the