The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
IN LESS SERIOUS MOOD.
BY CHARLES D. SOUTH.

BY CHARLES D. SOUTH.
Here is story which will surprise some and
amuse others among the friends and the crit
les OF the pictorial press. During the late war
between China and Japan, Frederick Villiers,
representing the London Standard and Black
and White, was early at the seat of conflict.
The London Graphic, suddenly awakening to
the fact that enterprising contemporaries had
given 1t back-view study in q matter OF great
Importance, Immediately sought to discover
an artist already in the far East. At the Korean
capital was found man widely known for the
cleverness of his sketches-his name, Bigot.
The Graphic wired to learn Bigot's terms for q
three months engagement in the field.
"Wfn go to front at two hundred and fifty
per month" was the answer.
Bigots demand was deemed exorbitant by
the Graphic management, which vsinly en-
deavored to secure figures more favorable to
the Journal, and wound up by making con-
tract on Bigots own terms Bigot was sue
cess of the first water and the Graphic won enco-
miums everywhere for the brilliancy of its war
sketches. But let us shift the scene.
81 followed the march of war;" said Mr..
Villiers, in a conversation at Victoria, upon
his return from Asia, ''and prided myself on
the fact that my sketches were accurate. I'm
agine my astonishment when received from
Black and White a rather pointed communica-
ton TO the effect that the Illustrations in the
Graphic were more spirited than mine and
were attracting wide attention for their
apparent fidelity to details. Why, there
was even a strong hint in the letters that
was not at the front at all in fact, that was
playing the part of a faker. l shall not attempt
TO describe my feelings. Suffice it to say that,
when the war ceased and reached Chemulpo
received q most cheerful greeting at the
hands OF Artist Bgot, who introduced himself
as the representative of the Graphic.
"'HaP 1 cried, and where have you kept
yourself that have not run across your
"'Right here was his honest reply.
"'But how on earth did You make such fine
sketches?'
"'Easily told,' he frankly replied Il OBJ
tanned both Chinese and Japanese regulation
army uniforms, and employed at times
dozen coolies 10 put them on. BY posing the
coolie warriors in various striking positions
obtained excellent effects. When battle news
came in l fastened TO obtain the names TO fit
to my sketches for speedy transmission to Lon
don.'
land so you were the faker, and I the
artist OF fact, unused. Il wish you could ex-
onerate me by open confession
"1'n do it, said Bigot, without a seconds
hesitation.
"'Do you actually mean to say that you will
arm me with a letter to the Graphic, declaring,
over your own signature, that your work was
entirely imaginative, while mine was genuine
and done on the field?'
"'Certainlyl My contracts upl The wars
over, and I'm going to remain here. Pm
happy to say that satisfied the Graphic peo-
pie, and don't mind telling them how did
It. They paid me enough for that considera-
ton. Ny terms, you see, were $50 yen, and
didn't know why the Graphic thought that
amount preposterous until received my check
tor t250 at the end of the first month. They
evidently thought meant pounds instead of
yens Well, just let it go at that, and a check
of the same size has come three times-and,
then, my expenses have amounted TO a snug
figure, Tor, mentally, I have done whole lot of
travelling"
Bigot wrote the desired letter and villiers
had 1t in his pocket on his way back TO Eng
land. And the man who received, by long
odds, the biggest salary among all the artists
who were employed to illustrate the Chins-
Japan war-the man, too, who made the most
brilliant and spirited sketches-wss man
who never saw so much as the distant smoke
Of any one of the battles.
AS Il was with Samson's muscle can it be with
Imbers mind
That the powers Of the Cabbala are chiefly in his
tresses:
Could little pair OF scissors make the eye
prophetic blind
II they cut the Imber crop that courts the care
less winds caresses:
Comes the valiant "whte Mahatma" from the
Himalayan sleeps,
WELDING all the juggling science OF the fakirs of
Rangoon.
With his knowledge OF the Yogi, Gurus, Brahmin
treasure heaps
Comes, and epithets at Imber hurls OF harmless
crank" and 'loon."
Is there hghting-blood in Imoer "of the chosen
thirty-six?''
WIN he paralyze the Hindoo by slap with all he
knows9
Or astound Professor Dantzic with his Cabbaiastic
tricks
Which the secrets of the present, past and future
may discloses
Here's pointer for the jugSler: Tackle Imber by
his hair.
The loss of it win lose him his extraordinary
feature.
The powers OF the Cabbala must be concentered
there.
Minus curls, farewell to Imber-poor, unenviahle
creature.
Historical relics of priceless value and heir
looms that have been treasured for genera
tions are not infrequently sacrificed on the
altar of necessity.
1t was about the full of the March moon
when John Doe Smith realized that he had
reached his last quarter. Twenty-Five cents
lower and he would be upon his uppers He
gazed at the ancient bugle, suspended by
greasy ribbons from the wall.
81 must part with you" he said. He revealed
his condition of misery 10 companions who
had previously determined to risk no sever.
snce OF the fond relations with Smith through
disregard OF the advice that Joan oft loseth