The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1898-12-03
QUEER IDEAS OF ART.
DoLLlvER POSES AS A CRITIC FOR
sLoTrERWlCKS BENEFIT.

Sharply Censures the GEM He Admired
Because 1t was Lacking In Impression
ism-Disintsrested Advice That May or
May Not Have Been Followed.
When Blotterwick's wife's aunt died
and left her a lot Of money, the first
thing Blotterwick did was to buy a
house, and the next thing he did was
to furnish ii. Among the furnishings
was a picture. There was more than
one picture, you understand, but it was
one particular picture that got Blotter-
wick into trouble. The dealer called it
a pastoral scene, and it was so pretty
that Blotterwick stood before it every
day and admired 1t. He also called in
the neighbors and they admired it.
Then II day he invited Raphael Ros-
setti D~olliver to dinner, and had hardly
finished the meal before he said: II
have a rafting good picture l want to
show you, Deliver. l think it is a lit
tie the best in its line hat I've seen for
many a day"
II didn't know you were a connois-
seur, +" said D~olliver.
"I'm not, " returned Blotterwick. eff
/ was, 1 wouldn't buy pictures-I'd
only talk about them"
This was the only hit made by Blot
terwick in the game, so it is just al
well to score it here.
"Ah-hum," said Dolliver, with
calm scorn. "Where is this phenomenal
work Of art?"
If Blotterwick had been wise, he
would have turned the conversation tc
q barrel of ale he had in the cellar, but
he went unthinking to his fate.
The picture vas in the parlor in
very good night, and MI. Dolliver sur
veyed it for five minutes in stony 81
lence. Then he said, II suppose those
objects in the immediate foreground ar,
cows?''
Certainly they are cows, replied
Blotterwick, in surprise. what die
you think they were-elephants?"
Unfortunately there is no question
about it," said Dolliver, shaking hi
head sadly. II suppose, also, there i
no doubt about the figure of the ma
coming down the road?"
. GA man? Why, D%olliver, that is
gem You can almost see every fea
ture.
eyes, I see, " returned Dolliver, will
a slight cough. 1.-The trees l also see ar
exactly like trees, and no one coul,
mistake the water for anything else. !"
: THAT'S about the size of it, erie
y Blotterwick, in delight. "~Everythin
in that picture stands right out. A chill
could understand every detail"
"That's it-that's it, said Dollivel
with a great gulp, and then he laid hi
hand on his friends shoulder and sal
with emotion: "Blotterwick, Nv
known you since a child. We went I
school together, and l know you woul
not harm a fly, but-don't show ths
picture to any n that knows anything
Please don't"
Good heavens!'' cried BlotterwiC
explosively. whats the matter wit
the picture? Didn't you just say
"Be calm, Blotterwick. You hay
been taken in. Why, man, where hay
you been living that you can't tell
real picture when you see it? You hay
hh11lltISk AtS tAo SON0 ~ ANN ~
and the trees like trees. Where, then,
the pleasure in discovering the GOV
and the trees?
:. "Then, there is the man. You bril-
in your stable fellow and ask him VIII
that is and he will recognize it instan
- ly. Can't you see how commonpla
that is? Now, there's the water. Su
-, pose that at first glance everybot
- should take it to be a hog Oh a prair
-, or a tablecloth, and then, after reaso
" ing a bit they would see that it W
meant for water, don't you realize he
different that would be from an orc
10 nary picture?
d. "Then look at the sunset. Why, thai
lie the kind of sunset you can see eve
er day. 1t is yellow, pink and red. 1t
not brown"
a Il don't believe ] ever saw a broy
~ sunset" said Blotterwick.
"Of course not; nobody ever did
returned Dolliver earnestly. "Tha
where the art is exhibited. You've 6
to discover that it is d sunset. That
the charm of art, and therefore this p
ture violates all its canons. Now, Bl
terwick, take my advice and give Il
picture to the village barber or hang
N in the stable. Then the next time y
are in town I'll take you somewh'
and let You buy a picture that will Ike
you wondering for a week whether II
a house OH fire or a charge of heavy d
l goons. When you find out, I'll CO
out and congratulate you. "-Chics