The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-28
WAS NOT A PHILISTINE.
The Suburbanite Described His Art
Treasures to Prove 1t,

New York Evening Sun.
Seems to me 1 had something 1 wanted
to speak to you about" said the man from
Jersey. "Lemme think" and his brow
wrinkled. Then the burrows formed into
frown he went on: What made you
call me a Philistyun to Lilbury last week.
The frown split into serious creases and
knots of intensity. Dye think because /
don't live in the metropolis that l amt got
any fine tentacles of feeling? By George,
you're one of the hardest fellers to under
stand that I've ever seen. If it comes to
art I'm right there.
Since 1 moved in my new house I've
hold. This makes me think how long it is
since you've been out there, because you
haven't seen me in my new quarters You
must come soon. Why, I've got the finest
lot of objects of virtue together in the last
year-positivey the finest I'm speakin'
about my own contributions now My wife
looks after the carpets and furniture-and
there amt a livin' woman's got better taste
but the pictures and statuary go to me.
Women amt such good judges about such
things as men. art bein an expression of
the feelin's by the help of the intellect.
Science tells that a woman can't Sift
her emotions through her brain the way a
just naturally peeping and crying. But
when it comes to mere decoration, | say let
the women tend to 1t.
my wife, too, S the greatest hand you
ever saw at accumulatin' soap coupons,
and salt coupons, and tradin' stamps and
that's another reason why / let her look
got all our lamps in this way; got the
handsomest pianer lamp you ever saw.
We can't put oil in 1T, because it leaks:
But pianer lamps are only for looks, and
this looks bully. She got three what-nots.
a melodeon upstairs and a whole set of
furniture for the hired girls room, all by
ben particular to get our groceries and
clothes and things where they offer
premiums | tell you, women are better
managers than men when it comes down to
details. The male minds gets tired of little
economics.
II kinder hate to talk about my share in
erectin' our palace of art, as some of my
neighborS are proud to name it, but l can't
afford to let my modesty stand in the way
of clearing myself of the hghness charge
you've made against me. But when l stop
to think of all the treasures in that one lit
tie house, SO much richness confuses me
| don't know where to begin. / S'pose / can
say more about my collection of statuary
than anything else. I've got about the most
complete collection of Rogers groups you
ever saw. 1 didn't put 'em all in one room.
The effect would be too massive But as
you wander round from one room to an
other there's statue placed just where it
will catch and rest the eye
In the sittin room, for instance, there's
Comm to the Parson,' just to remind me
and my wife of our sweetheart days. It's
more of Il family piece than the others.
That one where they're playin' checkers /
put down in the parlor. It's the most won
derful study in expression | ever came
visitor can get the benefit of it. Coming
to the Doctor is in the dining room. It's a
sort of reminder that we're all mortal. like
the skeleton the heathens used to keep at
their big spreads, only it amt so blood
curdling The youngsters learn a good les
son from it, too. about what will happen to
them If they don't obey the laws of health.
Upstairs in the bathroom, intoxicating
cleanliness and goodness, there's an oh,
You Dirty Boy! What? 1t amt a Rogers?
Not a genuine Rogers? Pshaw, you're just
trying to scare me. An advertisement?
Well now, by gum, / thought that was
the slickest piece of sculpture in the house
You've just gone and killed my pleasure in
Rogers forever Funny how little blow
to a mans vanity should make him feel so
mean.
II won't tell you any more about my
can't keep it to yourself. But when it
comes to pictures ! can run you to a stand
still. Pictures are my besettin sin | do
love a good picture. Why. 1 could stand
for hours before one of those things called
still life up in the museum, just thinkn'
apples and things look. My mouth fairly
waters. and / just have TO back off from
the rail.
Reality cuts the biggest figure with me-
One Of the luckiest strikes was on pic
ture l saw in store window here in this
city. set there to make people look in, of
course. 1t fired my fancy at once, and L
got it, too. They saw / was bound to have
it, and they let 1t go for song.
It's a funny thing. There isn't any
frame, but the canvas is nailed to one side
of big box and the picture represents
monkey sitting behind bars on a lot OF
straw. The box helps to make you think
it's a cage, and the whole blamed thing
looks so real that it's all you can do to
keep from throwing peanuts at the monk.
Then I've got yards and yards of roses
pansies daisies, yiolets-every kind of flow