Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1898-07-07
THE YELLOW FLAG.
Plan of an Artist by Which He Save,
Himself From His Friends.

no one calls on him, removed to,a
suburban town last summer so that
he might finish lot of illustrations
which he had promised
New York is all right" he said
to his friends, "but I know too
many people here, and my friends
keep calling on me in my studio,
and this sadly interferes with my
work. I have selected Lonelyville
because my wife likes it and know
absolutely no one in the place. /
have orders for years work, and
l simply must do it on time. You
fellows may come out to see me on
Sundays, but not on weekdays"
Several weeks later some of his
friends from New York went out TIC
see the artist on Sunday and they
found him enthusiastic about the
place.
There is a fine lot of fellows
here" he said, and have enjoyed
the town immensely. I have joined
a yacht club, a bowling club, whist
club and Saturday night smoker
club. Found several old friends out
here also"
"But I thought that you came
here SO that you might do your
work without Interruption" said
one of his callers.
well, yes, that was my reason,
and as soon as have met all the
boys and each of them has made his
call on me I can settle down and
make up for lost time.'
A month later the publishers for
whom this artist worked began to
complain that they had received no
illustrations from him. The artist
made promises and broke them.
Finally one of the publishers went
out to Lonelyville to investigate.
He found that the artist was out
yachting. He waited for him, and
then laid down the law to MIN.
"This book must come out on
time, said the publisher, land I
will give you just one month more
on which to finish your illustrations.
If they are not done then, we will
getanother man and never give you
any more work.
When the publisher went, the art
list said to his wife: Now what am I
going to do about this9 Ican't pos.
sibly tell my friends to stay away
for month. They wouldn't under
stand my purpose. The committee
from the yacht club is coming here
tomorrow afternoon, and on the fol-
lowing day / expect some of the
whist club men, and so it goes. What
am to dos'
The artists wife was ingenious.
and she explained little scheme of
her own to her husband. When the
committee from the yacht club call
ed the following day. they saw a big,
yellow flag flying over the door.
Underneath it was big placard on
which was printed: keep off. Con-
tagious disease here" They did
keep off, and soon all Lonelyville
knew about it. The local health off,
Ger went around to investigate, and
after short conversation with the
artists wife he went away with a
broad smile on his face. When the
other inhabitants of Lonelyville
questioned him about the case, he
looked serious and said that he was
not at liberty to say what the dis
ease was, but that no one was likely
to catch it unless he went into the
house. During the next month that
flag waved and no one saw the art
list. The publisher got his illustra-
tionsr and then the flag was hauled
down, and the health officer an
nounced that it would be safe to call
on the artist. His friends in the town
came around to see him and con-
graduate him on his recovery. He
didn't look like man who had been
through serious illness.
What was the disease2" they ask
ed.
"Loafng," said the artist serious
ly. He then explained that he had
quarantined the house not against
loafng within, but against his
friends who might come and infect
him with it. The idea of the yellow
flag impressed his acquaintance and
in accordance with their advice the
artist still uses it. Four or five days
aweek this flag flies before his door,
and none of his friends calls. AS soon
as it is hauled down they know that
the artist is ready to receive them,
and they call. The artists publish
ers heard of it, and as an evidence
of their gratitude they sent him a
big yellow silk flag which hasn't it's
equal in Lonelyville. New York
Sun.
Milton, the Puritan Artist.