The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-19

his paints and brushes aside for few mo-
ments, 'Iet me tell you something. In Eng
land, France, Germany, Italy, and in fact most
all countries where art Is recognized at all, the
Government fosters and assists in the estab-
lishment OF art galleries. Why, they even go
so far as TO expend considerable sums of money
to fill them with the best pictures obtainable
''Now consider for moment the effect such
an institution would have on the public mind?
1t should be made so attractive that the lay
man would find it worth while 10 go there and
study with his eye. How many people are
here to-day who know the elements of good
painting? Few. They have to be taught. l
suppose If any one heard me say this there
would at once be an exception taken, but it is
true, nevertheless Aye, indeed it is.
mark you. Would there not be better
market if the buyers understood? I venture
to say that there is many bit of work that
will be sold for q song some day, not because
it is only worth song, but because there are
more singers than there are admirers. Let
some embryo genius paint picture that has
the divine touch in it, something that is worth
O better price than it brings, and 1t needs the
approval OF the entire population to sell it for
anything like the amount it is really entitled
to. Pshaw. I say the people do not know
How can they? The Art Association is all
good enough in its way but 1t is filed with
local Work, anu ATllSlS iii OF one quarter are
not likely to see many remarkable traits in
their neighbors.
az say" he resumed, switching with wonder
full rapidity from the chief topic "Do you
know the Judge? Is the portrait good OF him?
Jolly fellow, the Judge"
In moment he was looking into the face
and painting away again as though the Judge
was on the point of getting off the canvas if
the finishing touches were not applied before
sunset
The visitor smiled, shook hands with the
artist and went out.
William Kelleher, pioneer of California,
celebrated far and near in the earlier DAYS of
the States history for his hospitality and his
admiration and emulation OF the manners OF
old Spanish dons, returned recently from Texas
to spend some time among friends here
People who knew Kelleher had almost for.
gotten him, and many had thought him dead
for in quarter of a century not q word had
been heard from the singular pioneer who
came back to California as he had left The
| only difference was KeIleher had amassed hal,
a million or more dollars in his absence from
California, and was, therefore, very rich man
when he appeared suddenly among old-time
friends with quite as much mystery as when he
| left.
| One Of Kelleher's old associates told an in.
teresting story about him the other day. II
made Kelleher hero of romance.
Thirty years ago he lived in Pacheco Valley,
up in Contra Costa County, said the vener.
able pioneer.
1.-THE boys used to call him the dom He
was typical old-time Californian Spaniard
| and his home in Pacheco Valley typical old
time Spanish hacienda. That is as far as hos
pitality went and the style of living that KEEL
leher kept up. Every one was welcome there,
rich or poor; tramp, peddler or millionaire, it
was all the same. The wayfarer in Pacheco
Valley knew the house, and its fame was
spread far and near. Kelleher was yeritable
don in that country. To offer him money for
his hospitality would be an insult. Yet.
with all this generosity and free and open way
of living, Kelleher acquired wealth as a
rancher.
''More than a quarter of a century ago when
he grew independently rich and was at the
height of his popularity, he was induced by
friends to run for the Legislature. But there
was one thing he had forgotten. Kelleher
could not write, and that crushed him. What
do you think his political opponents did I?
They posted big signs all over the district like
this:
William Kelleher, mis- signature, x
''The big Y defeated Kelleher so BADLY that
with the ridicule it brought he pulled up his
stakes and got out He sold his farm and the
growing crops, closed his hospitable house and
eft 1t to stranger, and moved far away from