Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-07
"wnAr DO You MEAN. THE CHELSEA GnANr2,

them but the vilest and most ignorant
smearing ever put upon canvas
"Tlen how do you account for the fact
that some of the most advanced critics are
beginning to consider Barney seriously as a
now factor in the art world?"
81 hadn't heard of it. Who, for in
stance?"
We'll. I'm told that Viellieme simply
raves over his work-Says it's a distinctive
new note, and that Barney is the only orig
inal genius England has ever produced"
You amaze me. 1t can't be true. What
ever any one may say of Viellieme's moral
nature no one can derry that he knows a
picture when he sees it."
"Of course; I'm simply giving what l have
heard. As | say, | don't admire Barney's
work myself. However, I'm just off for
Paris, and I'll find out for you, on the quiet,
just what Viellieme thinks. If Barney is a
coming man, you'd want to know 1t, and at
least give the first mixing of the new craze,
If there is to be one, wouldn't you?"
Certainly. But l can't believe it."
I'm not sure that l ought to mention
1t, but l know that a number of Barney's
paintings are going over to France, and 1
believe especially for Viellieme's inspec-
ton"
81 say, Haldiman, just find ont for me all
you can, will you. 1t seems Incredible. Still,
art is full Of surprises, and | should like to
know. If it is true, try to induce Viellieme
to write an article on the new era in art for
me-"
Would you print an article on Barney, il
/ get Viellieme to write it? thought you
didn't care for Barney's work"
Il don't, but I'll gladly print anything Well
lieme will sign. OF course, among the diff
ferent schools l endeayor to MAINTAIN abso-
lutte impartiality. l belive in letting every
side be heard"
"Well, I'll do my best"
Thanks, Haldiman. I'll be very much
obliged to you, and any expense you"
"Oh, don't mention it. I'm going to Paris
anyhow, so there won't be any extra eX-
pense."
The article, marvelously illustrated, APP
peared in due course. The result quite justi-
fed Barney's expectations and expenditure,
and the Barnard Hope boom ragged up and
down the land. He was interviewed, and
photographed, and Photographed. For a
time it was hardly possible to pick up a six
penny illustrated weekly without seeing the
latest photograph of Barney in it, for the
young man developed a genius for posing be-
fore a camera that would have done credit to
our greatest actor. The picture represent
ing him standing with arms folded across
his breast, a stern, commanding expression
upon his countenance, was the one perhaps
most sought after by young ladies', although
the one in which he looked like Rembrandt
was also very popular. Exhibitors begged
for his paintings, nabobs bought them, and
nobody understood them, which fact made
the boom a permanently. Real painters
looked at each other in amaZement, and
asked, What is the world coming to?"-a
question often propounded and never ade-
quately answered.
His great fame did not change Barney a
particle; he was the same hail fellow he had
always been, and an invitation to his Fat
home" became a distinction. America was
especially lavish in its purchases of his work,
and he was offered fabulous sums to go there
and lecture. TIE adulation he received
would have turned the head of almost any
man, but it had little effect on him, because
he never had the slightest misgiving that his
great reputation was entirely undeoeTveI, and
he had looked upon himself as the foremost
man OF the age long before the world had
recognized the fact. He received letters
from all parts of the country, whose writers,
in most gushing phrase, said they had been
privileged to look upon his work at such
and such an exhibition, and they hoped
to live better and nobler lives in conse-
cuence. Some of these eplstles affected Bar
ney almost to tears, and he read them to
his friends. humbly thankful that the gift
of bestowing such pleasure and welding
such an influence for good upon his fellow
creatures had been granted him.
Imitators arose, of course, but they did
little TO tarnish his reputation; for, as Haldi-
man had said, there was only one Barney,
and II is never given to two men in any
one generation to paint as badly as Barney
did. Art critics scored the imitators mer-
cilessly, and were in the habit Of saying
that II Barnard Hope had not lived such and
such a picture would not have been painted
which statement was probably quite true.
Barney's people were naturally very proud
OF him. His father had always admired him
with the intense admiration which a very
little man has for a very big relative; his
mother referred to him as. my son, Barn
ard Hope, the celebrated painter"
To all appearances Barney was a man
greatly TO be enyied. but alas! how little does
the public know the inner life OF even It's
greatest %favorite. All may be fair to out
ward view, while within sits b~rooding care,
Barney had a secret trouble which he con-
hded to no one. and 1t caused him serious
mental Dissatisfaction. He had told Edna
Sartwell that she had blighted his life, and
he fully believed this at the time he made
the gloomy statement. He somberly pic
tured himself in the future as a disappointed
man-successful. perhaps, but c~ynically bit
ter with existence, living the life Of a rec
luse, and cherishing his broken heart. AS
tine victim OF a hopeless passion, he pitied
himself, and yet took a melancholy pleasure
in Eliminating over the wreck OF what might