The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-28


when doesn't matter. I've come to the
conclusion that I'm wasting my ex-
istence. You'll scott, of course. but
know 1 have genius-not talent. mind.
but genius. There's no use of making
any bones about it. or pretending false
modesty; if man is a genius. ne
knows it. Very well, then, why not
say so?"
Il see no reason against it,
Quite so. Now, Haldiman, how much
money do you make in year,?
You mean. how little?"
Put it any way you like. Name the
figure"
whats that got to do with your
geniuse"
Never you mind. What's the
amount?'
Now. Barney. if you're cooking up
some new kind of financial insult, l
give you fair warning 1 won't stand
| it,
Barney had gulped down his stimu-
liant, and now paced up and down the
room, clearing a track for himself by
kicking things out of the way. Haldi-
man sat in a deep armchair. his legs
stretched out ard his hands in his
pockets, watching his friends energetic
march to and fro.
THE artistic profession" cried the
pedestrian, has been held up to the
scorn of the world since painting began.
Read any novel and you will see that.
if the heroine is to make doocedly
bad marriage, she invariably falls in
love with an artist-invariably."
'Well-she generally marries u.s."
"Yes, and lives in misery ever after
"Oh, we're generous, and share it
with her.
You see what I mean. The artist
is held I'D to contempt, and all re-
spectacle people in the book are aghast
at the girls choice. Now. why is this?'
fiction is VIGOROUSLY untrue to life.
The wives of the Royal Academy live
in splendor and luxury undreamed of
by the ordinary lady of title"
Nothing of the sort. It's because
the artists don't business manage
themselves. They have no commercial
sense Therefore they are poor. Now,
if a man invents soap, what does he
do?"
WASHES himself"
"He advertises it. He becomes rich.
Why. then, if a man writes a great
book. should he not advertise himself
and his book in every way that is open
to him.
II believe he does, Barney Where
have you been living this while back
! to be so ignorant of the approved
modern methods in art and literature p
isn't a great picture of more value
to the world than a much-advertised
soap?'
.sWeIl. if you ask me, should say no.
I'd take the soap as ciyilizer against
the Louvre any day"
Barney stopped in his walk. raised
his arms above his head, and let them
drop heavily to his sides.
81 haven't a friend in the world, he
cried, in tragic tones. Not one-not
one"
Barney. this conversation is bewil-
dering. What are you driving at, any
how? Art, soap. literature, advertis-
ins friendship. marriage-whats
wrong? Who is the woman?
Don't talk to me about women. L
hate them"
'I thought you were most successful
in that line 1 believe I have your own
authority for the statement.
SUGGEST One is successful uD to
point. then there is a disappointment
that shows what a sham success has
been. I'll never speak to g. woman
again."
'.Tve been there myself-several
times. Still, we always return-f not
to our first love. to our fourth or fifth
AS for friends, I don't know any man
who has more"
Not true friends, Haldiman L
haven't one. I tell you. did think you
were a friend, and you do nothing but
sheer at me. You think I don't see it.
/ do. all the same. I'm the most sensi-
tive of men, although nobody appears
to appreciate it.
Il don't sheer at you, Barney. What
put that into your head? / think you
sometimes fail to appreciate other
neople's sensitiveness. You are a trifie
MI Of E'nO1l notes
in the faces of those not so well pro
vided with them as you are. Then the
sensitive soul rises in rebellion.
That's my unfortunate manner
Haldiman. / really don't mean to do
so. If I had a game leg or club foot
and came humping in here with it.
YOU wouldn't make fun of my defect
would you? OF course not. Well, why
should you resent a defect of manner
when you know my intentions are
good?"
Il don't resent anything about you.
Barney-at least. only spasmodically.
You know I'd go to the end of the
world to serve friend-l would, non
est; yet I've no luck. Here is poor
devil of a musician I'm trying to be-
friend l can see he dislikes me in
tensely 1 got publisher to bring out
some of his music-paid all the ex
penses-yet It was like pulling teeth
to get that organist to allow me to
help him, and he's a genius If there
ever was one. l got a select and APP
preciative audience together to hear
him play. He didn't come, although he
promised to do so, and the people
thought 1 was trying TO make fools
of them 1t must all be my accused
manner Now you always. know the
right thing TO say. I don't. My genius
doesn't run that way. I'm an artist"
Haldiman threw back his head and
laughed Barney stared at him. dis
pleasure on his brow.
What the deuce are you laughing
at now?'
Forgive me, Barney; I'm laughing
at the humping of your club foot, al
though you did not believe me capable
of it,
What have 1 said?"
Notwithstanding Barney, I love
you You are the one and only Bar
nard Hope; all others are base inita-
tons Now listen to me. I haven't
the faintest idea what it is you want
This conversation has been simply en-
cyclopaedic IN the amount of ground
you would do for me. short of abduction
or assassination. I'd prefer not to
land myself in prison, if you don't
mind but I'll even run the risk of
that What do you want? Out witt
it,
But the moment 1 begin you'll say
you're insulted. You terrorize me
Haldiman, pom my soul, you do
Go on. For ten minutes insults are
barred. Will you go on?"
Very well. I asked you how much
you made in a year, and you jeered at
~ na,,ar lseen accounts and never nav