New-York tribune., 1903-06-21

'one American man got 1t for me-"
How did you find your way here?"
Il asst to the streets any man ritin on the
paper an they direk me here an come in"
Il am sorry for you. but have no change
this morning. If had two or three francs in
change would give them to you. but fifty
francs is the smallest piece have"
When he had read this I opened the door,
through which he reluctantly went out. He
had gone about half way down the steps when
l suddenly called out:
"oh. wait a moment! I've found a franc in
change. HereH'
He wheeled around quickly, as though re-
ceiving news Of unexpected dividends from
forgotten mining shares. and held out his
hand innocently, not realizing he was caught
until l said. It's a pity, poor fellow, you
can't hear"
Such experiences as this finally brought me
to the conclusion that only out of one
thousand of these cases worthy. 1 had
made up my mind very firmly upon this point
and was congratulating myself upon my
acumen to fathom the pretensions of the un-
worthy nine hundred and ninety-nine when
one afternoon last winter long, thin. old fell
low entered carrying a large bundle under his
arm. Evidently. he man of business, for
he began at once:
Look here. Mr.. Consul, I'm not begging. I'm
a painter. My wife died I've been sick lons
time. Had to pay out all my money. give UP
my studio and I'm just out of the hospital. I'm
trying to begin again. If you've got picture
YOU want enlarged, I'll do it for nothing just to
get start. See. here's my work"
If there is one character among the callers at
the consulate with whom 1 have patience 1t
IS the picture man. But somehow this fellows
manner impressed me. His appearance did not
indicate a love of drink his careworn face
seemed due rather to much sickness and trou-
BILE and my heart went out to him. His work
we'll done. and i gave him a pnOtOSrapn OIL
myself to enlarge. Two days later he returned
with it beautifully finished. He repeated that
he wanted no pay, but insisted After some
persuasion he expressed himself as wiling TO
take any old cast off clothing. I gave him an
old suit and an overcoat worth three or four
times, perhaps, the price of his picture.
IF you could give a little note saying how
you like the work. it might help me along, ne
inadvertently remarked before leaving scr1b-
bled off a few words upon my visiting card.
which he took with a careless Thank you.
Upon leaving he added: I've large painting
I did at Coney Island some years ago. L want
to make you a present of it, Mr.. Consul. when
I touch if I'D little" Poor fellow, I thought.
he certainly is grateful, and L pressed a five
franc piece in his hand
returned to my work convinced that at last
had come face to face with the one deserving
case of the thousand.
After month so l found in my social visits
among the American colony in Rouen a cool
ness, and later I learned the cause of it. This
scamp had got scores of photographs, hundreds
of francs paid In advance for pictures he never
pretended or intended to do. and skipped
friend remarked to me one day:
You know, all the Americans here recognized
that old overcoat of yours and when this fellow
said YOU had given it to him, telling his pitiful
storv and presenting your card, every one was
willing to pay before the work was done.
Some time later l received a bill of 70 francs
for the enlargement of photograph, sent by
one of the city photographers friend of mine
THE rascal had gone to him with my photograph
and made him believe [ had sent 1t to be
iarged-a thing not difficult, since it was my
likeness.