Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-27
1.-THE JOYOUS C0MRADE.' .
ByL ZANGWHL,
Copyright, 1895, BY the Author.
what are you gaping ats why

L y
ion't you say something:" And all the
impatience Of the rapt artist at being
interrupted by anything but praise was
in the outburst.
"Holy Mosesr' gasped. "Give Z
man u chance to get his breath. fall
through dark antechamber. over bi.
cycle, stumble round a screen, and,
smack, glare Of oriental sunlight
from gigantic canvas, the vibration
and glow of group Of joyous figures
reeking with life and sweat-you the
idealist, the seeker after natures beau
tiful moods and arts beautiful pat
terns"
beautiful moods!" he echoed an.
grily. And why isn't this q beautiful
mood? And what more beautiful pat.
tern than this--look, this line, this
sweep. this group here, this clinging OF
the children round this mass-all in q
glow balanced by this mass of cool
shadow: The meaning doesn't interfere
with the pattern. you champ"
"Oh, so there Is meaning! You've
become an anecdotal painter
"Adjeotiyes be hanged can't talk
theory in tho precious daylight II you
can't see
II can zee that you are painting
something you haven't seen. You have
not been in the east. have you:"
III had. haven't got time 60 jaw
about ii now. Come and have an alb
smith at the Cafe Victor in memory OF
old Paris days-Sixth avenue-any OF
the boys will tell You. Let me see, day
light till 6--half past 6. Au 'vOir. nd
'voirr'
As / went down the steep dark stairs
"Same old Dan," l thought. "Who
would imagine / was . stranger In New
York looking up an old fellow struggleI
on his native heath? II I didn't know
better, ] might fancy his tremendous
success had given him the same opinion
Of himself that America has OF him.
But, no: nothing will change him-the
same furious devotion to his canvas
once he has quietly planned his picture.
the same obstinate conviction that he IL
seeing something in the only right way
And yet something has changed him.
Why has his brush suddenly gone east
Why this new kind Of composition
crowded with figures-ancient Jews
too: Has he been taken with piety and
is he going henceforward ostentatiously
20 proclaim his race? And who Is the
cheerful central figure with the fine
open facel | don't recollect any such
scene in Jewish history-or anything
so joyous. Perhaps it's study OF mod
ern Jerusalem Jews. TO show their life
is not all wailing Wall and jeremiah.
| Or perhaps it's only decorative. Amer
| lea is great OH decoration just now. No,
he said the picture had a meaning.
Well. l shall know all about il tonight.
Anyhow it's q beautiful thing"
"Same old Dan," thought even
more decisively as. when opened the
door Of the little cafe. q burly. black
bearded figure with audacious eye,
came ut me with grip and a slap and
n roar Of welcome and dragged me &c
the quiet corner behind the billiard
| tables.
I've just been opalizing your ab
sinth for you." he laughed as We sal
down. "But what's the matter? You
look kind o. scared"
Its your inferno Of . city. As
turned the corner Of Sixth avenue al
elevated train came shrieking and rum
bling. and q swirl Of wind swept
screeching round and round. envelopine
me in whirlpool Of smoke and steam,
until, dazed and choked in what seemed
the scalding effervescence OF collision
had given up all hope Of ever learning
what your confounded picture meant
"Aha" He took u complacent sip
'It staid with you. did it," And th'
light Of triumph, flushing for an instant
his rugged features, showed when II
waned how pale and drawn they were
by the feverish tension Of his Ions
days work.
Eyes, it did, old fellow" said affec
tionately. 1.-The JOY and the glow Of
il, and yet also some strange antique
simplicity and restfulness you have go'
into it, know not how, have been with
me all day, comforting me in the midst
of the tearing, grinding life OF thi'
closing nineteenth century after
Christ.
A curious smile fitted across Dan''
face. He tilted his chair back and rest
ed his head against the wall
"There's nothing that takes me *
much out Of the nineteenth century
after Christ" he said dreamily, "aI
this little French cafe. 1t watts mi
back to my early student days. that liz
somewhere amid the enchanted misti
of the youth Of the world, to the zest
full toll Of the studios, to the careless
trips in quaint, gray Holland, or fam
ing. devil may care Spain. Alb, wha
scenes shift and shuttle in the twinkle
Of the gas jet in this opalescept liquit
the hot simmer of the arena at thu
Seville bullfight, with its swirl Of colo
and movement; the torchight procession
of pilgrims round the church at Lourdes
with the one black nun praying by her
self in q shadowy corner; the lovely
valley Of the Tauba, where the tinkl'
Of the sheep bells mingles with the Lu
theran hymn blown to the four wind
from the old church tower; wines tina
were red; sunshine that was warm
mandolins. His voice died away a. il
exquisite reverie.
"And the east?" said slyly.
/ A good natured smile dissipated hil
delicious dream.
"Ah, yesW he said. my east Wa
the Tyrol.
"The Tyrol! How do You meant"
II see you won't let me out Of tina
story"
"Ob! There's story, is there!"
| "Oh, well, perhaps not what You lii
erary chaps would call story! N
lovemaking in 1t. you know"
"Then it can wait Tell me abou
your picture.
"But that's mixed up with 10
story"
i didn't cay you had become an IN
ecdotal artist?'
i "It's no laughing matter" be al
grayely. "You remember when "
parted at Munich . year ago last spring
you to go on to Vienna and to 8
back to American Well, ] had q sudde
| fancy to take one last European trip al
By myself, and started south throug
the Tyrol with . pack On my back. Th
third day ont I fell and bruised M