Gardnerville record. (Gardnerville, Nev.) 1898-1902, 1901-05-16
THE PAINTERS
ANGEL :. :. =. :.
BY
HALLE ERMINIE RIVES.

The painter sat III his square studio
/ with his head bowed In his hands
/ The four walls OF the room had eaci
a window, relieved by dingy curtains
and the floor was bare. The mnn'a
+ face WAS drawn and gaunt, and when
he raised his head his eyes were very
/ bright
These yearsw he cried to the ST.
i lenee. -Four of iheip, day after day,
week after week. always striving. al
ways laboring 10 express the thought
which IL Ia my brain, always impotent
because of poverty. always toliing
through three days that on the fourth
| may have models and materials for
my great work ! feel the power with
la me. bui am helpless. Others
around me succeed. J envy them, and
my envy slrangles the Lovely thing
which | try 10 paint, and Its features
grow gbastly and hateful 10 me. II
could only finish this one picture, But
cannot without hours of work with
costly models and many days Of appli-
cation which | must spend IN earning
my bread Aud the inspiration Will
not whit. 1t fades DINNER while ]
light ON. II II passes. am lost"
He bowed his head In his hands
again. and his shoulders moved a.
though with sobbing.
Just then a figure. white aud shining,
drifted down through the open sky.
light aud stood beside him. The paint
er raised his head He knew ihat ihe
visitor was an angel, for he had seen
angels IN his dreams lie clasped his
hands and knelt at the angels feet. aud
the tears were still on his face.
The aGgel was looking at the canvas
spread upon tbs easel. Ii was jun
ble OF huge forms for the painter WIS
to represent upon II great allegory
of humanity entitled The Triumph
Of Life" why are you not at work 2
the stranger asked. The painter
stretched his arms wide With de-
spairlng gesture. II was hopeless and
helpless. II meant want, desire. pow
erty, agony. supplication, all blent into
one
The angel regarded him pitifuiiy for
a moment Il have n MASTER he said,
.in whose gallery are the models OF all
the greatest works of the world.
Nothing IL missing. ! have come 10
give you his invitation To painl IN II.
The painter lifted his head eagerly.
There was question upon his face.
ut IL a wide gallery" the angel went
on. with four wings. In these wings
have sat all the great artists Of MI
times TO do their labor. In IL they
have received their first inspirations
from the great art ideal of which they
We're the interpreters. There Michael
Angelo brought his rough stone 10 set
free It's angelic forms: there came Bee
thoven, Its harmonles of form and OF
color hymnng themselves 10 him In
splendid music. Thither came Raphael
To gaze upon the glorious hines and In
the peace and beauty OF its alsles TO
paint the delicate loyeliness Of tue
Christ child. In its aleoyes sat Keats
and Shelley. gazing till It's various
beauty rang from their souls Into II
full aud fragile voice of song. There
they framed those sweet harmonies
which, unheard, were sweeter. All
these men have learned In this great
gallery. Today the masters sit In II
working and striving TO Interpret and.
In giving their all to the world, to
show TO those TO whom admitlanee is
forever denied, because they have not
the souls TO appreciate this art. little
collection"
Il have never heard OF this gallery
said the painter
True" said the angel. You have
been too busy with this great painting.
He touched the easel as be spoke.
The painter hung his head. Il am
not fit." he said. ITO sit with these
great artists. would better work Ion
ger here"
Not So" said the angel gently. you
have the will to do. The candle Is
burning in your soul"
The painters lips moved silently, but
the angel understood him. take me
With yon to this gallery" he was say.
Ing.
The angel stepped to the western win
dow of the room and flung II open wide
The painter came and stood beside
him. "Can we see It from hereT said
he. The angel nodded. This Is one OF
the four great wings Of my master
gallery" he said. Look"
THE painters gaze followed his. II
was spring. A little soft wind was
blowing. The starting grass In the gar
den below was a light. placid green
Just beyond was peach tree In bloom
with darting bees about II. There Il
nothing but pastels In this wing" said