The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1902-05-24
0 THE FROG BACK.
Story of an Artist Who had a Soft
Heart.

Heart.
The most popular tenant Of a GER
tain studio bsilding in this city is q
bachelor artist whose place as a paint
er was fixed very high years ago in
pubic estimation. His name is one
Of a dozen hat the average American
would call off as those Of leading
American artists, but for the pur-
poses Of this story he may be called
Mr.. House, The story is vouched for
by one Of his neighbors in the house,
who met him coming in at three
o'clock in the morning with muddy
shoes and who asked him where he
had been. People who know Mr..
House, says the New York Sun, will
not doubt the story, for it is charac-
teristic Of him.
Not long ago he decided that he
needed a large frog as a model for a
certain picture. He went out to a
pond in New Jersey where just such
frogs were to be found and at the ex-
pense Of wetting his shoes he succeed
ed in catching a fine specimen. He
brought his frog home in a pail and
left him in his studio while he went
out to dinner. When he returned,
feeling wearied with his exertions, he
fell asleep on his couch. He awoke
with a start about II o'clock at night.
An unusual noise had aroused him.
Everything in his studio seemed to
be all right. Then his eyes were at
tracted to the tin pail in which he
kept his frog. There was the frog
suspended on the edge Of the pail
with his head hanging over, looking
at him steadily. The artist returned
the look for a minute. During that
time his ideas Of frogs underwent a
change, There was something al
most human in this frogs gaze.
tTm not going to hurt you, old
chap" said the artist, "and when you
have served my purpose | will turn
you Loose in the Union Square foun-
tain"
The frog moved his head slightly.
"Perhaps that isn't as pleasant a
place as your New jersey pond. I
wonder if they DON'T let that fountain
run dry sometimes? There may not
be the right kind Of food there for
frogs and perhaps the small boys
plague them. BY Jove, perhaps
there are no other frogs therel What
then? This fellow might as well die
as be isolated in that fashion"
The frog moved again as if agree
ing with this last observation.
81 never thought much about you
fellows" continued the artist; "and
you probably have feelings something
like human beings. You may have
brothers to whom you are attached,
and you probably have your own
chums without whom you would be
lonesome. l ought not to have
brought you here. 1t was a thought
less act"
The more the artist thought about
it the more his conscience pricked,
until at last he decided to take the
frog back to his. own New Jersey
pond. He could reach it by trolley.
It was then nearly midnight. Hefelt
that he could not sleep with that
melancholy homesick frog in his
room, so he started for New Jersey
with the tin pail on his arm. 1t was
a nasty trip to this pond at night,
but the artist made it, and when he
was met on his return by his neigh
Dor he said after telling the story:
"The kerhop that frog made when
he struck the water amply rewarded
me for all my trouble"
The neighbor who tells the story
admits that it may sound a little fool
ish to people who don't know House,
but as the artist told it to him it was
tragic and convincing.
ODD-SHAPED BOTTLES.
como MAD a. c,,oh ro- Th.t No..