The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-07-11
THE GENERALS STATUES.
They All Came 90 Life and Gave Theit
Admirers n startling
Surprise.

surprise
Gen. Il, who was stationed for
many years in Algiers, was quite an
original character in his way.
The general owned beautiful villa
and grounds, and had determined to
give lawn party, to which the gov
ernor and all the higher officers were
invited.
1t occurred to the general that his
beautiful garden, or rather his elegant
park, was destitute of statuary, while
that of the governors was densely pop
ulated, so to speak, with the most pop
ular statuary.
The general remembered that there
was in one of his regiments a worth
less vagabond named Zepher, who was
generally in the guardhouse, but who
had a wonderful talent for sculpture
81 hear that you are a sculptor. Now
I want you TO sculp me lot Of gods
and goddesses-Jupiter, Apollo, Venus,
and all the rest of them, and have them
on hand by eight o'clock next Saturday
evening"
"But general, cant have them done
by next Saturday. 1t will take
months"
"Silence!" Numbered the general,
when I order anything to be done it
has to be done. You have that stat
uary done, or I'll have you locked up
for a month"
But general"
Keep quiet! How much money do
you need to buy plaster of paris?"
Zepher looked at the general and saw
that he was in earnest, so after he had
studied over the matter the sculptor re-
piled; "All right, general, l will do my
best I will want $50 to buy plaster Of
paris"
That was the last the general saw of
Zepher for several days, but he heard
of his going from one barroom to an
other, treating everybody, and having
a good time of it generally, so he sent
for the artist.
What is this hear about you? In
stead of sculpturing these gods, you
are going about filing your hide with
wine, and raising disturbances"
General" replied Zepher, humbly,
81 am getting along finely. We artists
have to get drunk to catch the inspira-
ton. That's the way it is with all great
geniuses."
Saturday night arrived as usual.
True to his word, Zepher had carried
the statuary, wrapped in blankets, into
an arbor in the garden. The pedestals
on which to place the figures had al
ready been put in position. Zepher, as
| ;e4o Nv f,-,o Ill > 10
kets from the life-sized plaster of paris
figures, and carefully placed them on
the pedestals. Then he escorted the
general through the garden, and
showed him his works of art. They
were, indeed, splendid.
"Ah, you are, indeed, an artist. That
is splendid Jupiter and his thunder
bolt. He looks for all the world like
that big corporal of the zouaves. He
has the same large beard
"He was my model, replied Zepher.
you have made a perfect image of
him. But why do you cough so much ?"
II am nervous for fear the statuary
may not please you"
DISMISS your fears. l am well salts
fed There are 500 for you to spend
with your friends. The governors
statuary cannot compare with these
deities."
Zepher disappeared, and the delight
ed general soon reappeared with the
governor and the other guests in the
brilliantly-lighted garden. To say that
they were astonished at the artistic
skill displayed is to use feeble word.
Everybody knew tip gigantic zouave
corporal with the big beard, and pro-
nounced the figure perfect. All the
other statues were wonderfully life
like, and the drapery skillfully ar
ranged.
Suddenly the governor who was ex-
aiming Jupiter through his eyeglass,
uttered an exclamation of astonish
ment and started back.
What is it, GOVERNOR"
81 must have been mistaken, but l
imagined that Jupiter moved his head.
1t must have been the light"
Yes, l suppose So" replied the gen
eral
Suddenly the whole company broke
into EXPLANATIONS of horror and aston
ishment. Jupiter's face was distorted
in a most inexplicable manner, and
without any warning, he sneezed ter
rife sneeze. Before the guests could
recover their establishment, great Jul
piter said, solemnly:
81 know | was told not to move,
general, but just could not help it.
believe have got cold in this"
Jupiter did not finish the sentence,
for the outraged general tore limb
from an orange tree and sailed into
the god as if to destroy him bodily.
''We had better get out of here" re-
marked Mercury to Venus, and, jump
ing down from their pedestals, they
made fine time for the fence helping
each other over as fast as they could.