The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-01
Photo by YsShi. Tokyo, Japan.

1t came all about through Geraldine
having her portrait painted by Mortimer
Menpes, Her first epistle on the subject
started my gastronomic nerves.
81 nave had the most wonderful exper-
isnce." she wrote. In a burst of cousin
~ confidence; genius has barred its heart
and taught me the secret OF success.
Coming Man In the London art world.
the portrait painter, the colorist, the ORR
entail artist OF the hour? He and Ills sur
roundings are the fad of the day; i'm fact,
he Ia unique. And he has told me how
it is done. Ii is just food question.
you must eat your own atmosphere"
Geraldine always had a queer way Of
putting things This last phrase wrinkl-
ca my brow ill read the crossing: lie
portant as suitable conditions; he won't
paint healthy people, for instance, on
vegetables. (Only Geraldine would sug-
gest such thlngD Now, III he had
done me in sauerkraut,. (good heavensD
Il should have COME out livid. AS il is
we'll you nave no idea how handsome
your coz looks and il Is beef-rsre beef
--Aidl hlN IT ENIih'rt IL > Mltbln gflNs
like the kingdom OF heaven. and the food
has to help just like prayers and going
TO church--not that he said that. but he
set me thinking. And | am sending you
Brillat Sayarin, and Gouffe, and Theo-
dore Child by mail For II Menpes has
really become London sensation just by
knowing what 10 eat, why should you
not study food and become a San Francis
can sensation? You have the talent,
al. Lee Il h.. fttSf
sacrifice everything and try!'
Well, l positively did IL. To be sure
everything" did not amount TO much,
Geraldine being the only one SO far. who
rated my artistic temperament at its full
value. / threw up my tiny billet as
fourth black and white illustrator on the
Hornet abandoned the little studio on
Bush street where six OF us dubbed to-
gether 10 hire models. gave my landlord
notice. and resolved 10 live on my small
capital. BY the time IL was exhausted
Geraldine and Menpes would have made
me famous.
but as a preliminary ! must secure an
edible atmosphere in Appropriate sur
roundings. Further instructions from
Geraldine taught me that my sitter's diet
should be considered as much ar my own I:
that an inspiring milieu was essential:
that "color" was everything and sky
was / to select? The sight of a gorge
ously arrayed heather Chinese crossing
Kearny steet suddenly decided my bent.
/ would study Chinatown and sacrifice
myself on the altar Of Chinese cookery (!
On the Plaza I found bright, airy quar-
ters: Chinatown was AZ my dor, and my
windows showed me Chinese types ram
bling around Stevenson's monument
against a background OF green Gerald
Inc was delighted. 1T is quite fine OF
YOU dear boy" she wrote "to risk all in
the service OF art. Now mind and eat
intelligsntly; IL will be the making of
YOU"
The making proved m insipid process.
despite all my enthusiasm. wandered
devoutly up stairs I'm an elaborate Du-
pout street establishment dt was long
before the plague scare was heard on,
whero. amid Joss-house surroundings. OF
aristocratic tables. trihed with dishes
which 1 dared not analyze. ! meaudercd
down stairs In humber Jackson street
quarters. where I partook OF messes that
made me shudder. Finally abandoning
the Chinese chefs, / INDUCED In mangoes
persimmons and sugar cane, Chinese pre-
serves and Chinese candles. Chinese rad.
ishes and Chinese turnips. and saffron
hued Chinese cheeses. till my very livel
rebemed stlll it seemed the right thinI
90 do when painting yellow men much
| given 30 ''greenery-y gallery" garb
But I was dubious about results. and
ono day Willis. wandering down from
| hopkins. found me sitting disconsolate
! Is before my last canvas. lie glanced
| from 70 TO me and from me 10 II IN grfn
| silence.
rs that all you have to say" burs
| ont at last
40" he replied. but 7 don't know ex
| actlv how To put tt'
'Put " any way yor Ike
well fancy yOn are suffering from
| ~ attack of iaundicc 20
4 Since when have yOu taken 10 dag
| nosis 2'' 7 retorted. Never felt better II
| ny uf~" Which vas a lie. and We bol
/ knew H.
NV dear fellow" he protested. 'yo,
| have had enough Chinatown. Give &
4 up"
nut 1 want color" insisted. stub
| b0rnly.
| TRY Mexico
] u Was an idea. Menpes had been q
/ Mexico and rSved about a. J could g.
| the color without coins 80 far ] shifte'
1 MS dumtciis a. a SUNNY corner ~ Broad
Wa nest door 10 Mexican restaurant