Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-23
QUEER IDEAS OF ART.
DOLlIvER POSES AS A CRITIC FOR
BLoT1ERWICK'S BENEFIT.

WEN W. W
BLoTTERWICK'S BENEFIT.
Sharply Censures the Gem He Admired
Because It Was Lacking In Impression.
ism-Disinterestsd 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 it. 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 it. He also called in
the neighbors and they admired it.
Then n day he invited Raphael Ros.
setti Dolliver to dinner, and had hardly
finished the meal before he said: 81
have a rattling good picture l want to
show you, Dolliver. l think it is a lit
tie the best in its line that I've seen for
many a day"
II didn't know you were a connois-
seur, " said Deliver.
"I'm not. returned Blotterwick. IF
I was, l wouldn't buy pictures-I'd
only talk about them.'
This was the only hit made by Blot
terwick in the game, 50 it is just as
we'll 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 to
a barrel Of ale he had in the cellar, but
he went unthinking to his fate.
The picture was in the parlor in q
very good night, and Mr.. Dolliver sur
veyed it for five minutes in stony ST.
lence. Then be said, Il suppose those
objects in the immediate foreground are
cows?"
Certainly they are cows, " replied
Blotterwick, in surprise. "What did
you think they were-elephants?"
UNFORTUNATELY there is no question
about it, said D%olliver, shaking his
head sadly. II suppose, also, there is
no doubt about the figure Of the man
coming down the road?"
"A man? Why, Dolliver, that is a
gem! You can almost see every fea-
ture."
"Yes, I see, returned Dolliver, with
a slight cough. 1.-THE trees l also see are
exactly like trees, and no one could
mistake the water for anything else"
"That,s about the size of it" cried
Blotterwick, in delight. Everything
in that picture stands right out. A child
could understand every detail"
"That's it-that's it" said Dolliver,
with a great gulp, and then he laid his
hand on his friends shoulder and said
with emotion: "Blotterwick, I've
known you since a child. We went to
school together, and I know you would
not harm q fly, but-don't show that
picture to any that knows anything.
Please don't"
GOOD heavens!" cried Blotterwick
explosively. whats the matter with
the picture? Didn't you just say
"Be calm, Blotterwick. You have
been taken in. Why, man, where have
you been living that you can't tell q
real picture when you see it? You have
admitted that the COWS look like COW
and the trees like trees. Where, then, 10
the pleasure in discovering the COW
and the trees?
"Then, there Is the man. You bring
in your stable fellow and ask him what
that is and he will recognize it instant.
ly. Can't you see how commonplace
that is? Now, there's the water. Sup
pose that at first glance everybody
should take it to be a hog or a prairie
o. a tablecloth, and then, after reason
ing a bit they would see that it was
meant for water, don't you realize how
different that would be from an ordi-
nary pictures
"Then look at the sunset. Why, that's
the kind of sunset you "a see every
day. 1t is yellow. pink and red. 1t is
not brown"
II don't believe I ever saw a brown
sunset" said Blotterwick.
"Of our not; nobody ever did,"
returned Dolliyer earnestly. "That's
where the art is exhibited. You've got
to discover that it is q sunset. That is
the charm Of art, and therefore this pic
ture violates all its canons. Now, Blot
terwick, take my advice and give this
picture to the village barber or hang it
in the stable. Then the next time you
are in town I'll take you somewhere
and let you buy a picture that will keep
you wondering for a week whether it 10
a house on fire or a charge Of heavy dra.
goons. When you find out, I'll come
out and congratulate you. Chicago
Times Herald.