Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-29
RELATES EXPERIENCE WITH MR. sARrwELI4

terly unknown. The public won't buy my
pictures. | don't conceal that fact Why
should |? | sent a picture to the Birming
ham exhibition-I don't say that it was
great, but | do claim that 1t had indi-
'viduality. They rejected it,"
You amaze met
Il give you my word OF honor they did,
Haldiman. Birmingham! Think of that!
town that manufactures nails and gun
barrels"
"Oh. art in England is going to the dogs, -
said Haldiman, dejectedly.
NOV | don't go so far as to say that
No. | laughed when my little effort came
back. with regrets. l said l can bide my
time. and | can. The people will come to
me, Haidman. you see If they don't"
They do already, Barney-those who
want to borrow money"
Now. look here, Hurst, don't throw my
beastly cash in my teeth Am | to blame
If | am rich? Do | allow it to make a
difference between man and man? We were
talking about art, not money"
80 We were. About your pictures. Go
on"
Il only wanted to point out to you that
one must take things philosophically. Now,
If Birmingham had rejected one of your
pictures it would have depressed you for
a week"
Birmingham has got me on the other
alley, Barney. 1t has accepted two of mine.
Hence my gloom after what you have told
me"
Barnev beamed on his visitor Here was
his argument clinChCd, but he repressed his
desire to say II told you so" Still he
could not allow the occasion to pass with
cut improving 1t with little judicCus coun-
sci.
There you are. Haldiman. there YOU are.
Does not the fact that you are accepted of
Birmingham make you pause and think?"
I'm staggered It's a knOck-down blow
I'll be in the academy next"
"Oh. not so bad as that You see. IIaldi-
man. you have talent of certain kind"
Now Barney, you lay it on too thick. I
like fattery, OF course, but 1t must be deli
cately done. You are gross in your praise"
Il am not ilattering you, Hadiman. pom
my soul I'm not Most fellows would be
offended at what I'm going to say. but
you're sensible man"
There you go again"
Listen to me. You have a certain talent
technique, perhaps | should call it; slight
skill in technique"
"Ah. that's better. Now 20 on"
You got tho praise and the prizes in
Paris because of your technique. and that
set you on the wrong tack. You are merely
only doing well what hosts of other men
have done well before you. You are down
among the ruck' Now, l strive after
Individuality"
you get 1t, Barney"
That's not for me to say. Anyhow. indi-
viduality and strength are what | want to
see in my pictures, and there will some
time come a critic with a mind unbiased
enough to recognize these qualities. Then
my day will have arrived. You mark my
words. / shall found a school"
Like Julian's?"
mo, like Whstler's. You know very well
what | mean. That's your nasty way of
showing you are Offended because I'm frank
enough to tell you the truth"
II suppose none of us likes the candid
friend, however much we may pretend to.
Well | must be going. I've got some
technique to do for one Of the magazines"
Don't go Just yet | have not half
finished Here Is what I have 10 propose.
Give up your room and come here with me.
You see the great advantage have over you
Is that can walt II magazine asked me
10 do black and white work for It. l would
say, No, go to those poor devils who must
have work or starve, I'm working for the
future, not for the present. That's what
ia say. Now I'll give you bedroom, rent
free, and a corner of this studio II won't
cost you penny-nor your board, either
You can paint Just wbat you Ike, and not
what the public demands. Then you Will
be independent"
we have different views about things |
Barney, That would seem to me the worst
form OF dependence. II is very generous OF
you, Dut utterly lmpfUctltable; BESIDES. you
haven't thought of the danger OF my be
coming a mere copyist Of you-a shadow OF
the new individualist. couldn't risk that
you know"
Better become the shadow Of one man
than q shadow OF many, which you are
now"
Perhaps, but We must each hoe our own |
row In our own way. Goodby, Barney"
Haldiman went down stairs, not ehCerel !
as much as might have been expected by !
hopes oyeraowing good nature and gen
erosity He met Barneys mother on the |
stairs who gave him a head-to-foot glance |
Of evident dlsapproyal She did not admire |
the set with whom her son had thrown in |
his lot. and feared their influence on him |
would not be beneficial.
oh. mater! cried Barney, when she |