The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-09-04

oF kDlIh
PKEsENCE
buss that stood In the corner OF the
studio. thinking how he would like to
load IL with a pound Of powder and all
his smaller brio brac and make a
sudden, terrible end of his intractable
subject But the thought Of the daugh-
ter. 50 strangely different from both
her parents. checked him. Then one
day Mrs- Brockwell brought Edith with
her to the studio. and Hardy forgave
her everything. Under the inspiration
Of Edith's presence he worked so hard
that. for the first time. he won Mrs
Brookwelrs favor.
The lady told her husband that the
portrait was going to be a great sue
cess. and that sent him flying to the
studio on the following day. 1t was not
his wish that the portrait should sue
ceed- He had not supposed that such
q thing was possible. and that was
why he had insisted upon having Mrs
Brockwell's etfigy painted first
Nothing Is so maddening as O lay
mans criticism of an unfinished por-
trait. OF course II doesn't look like
anything. Only the crudest amateur
draws the face at the beginning. The
artist sees color first. He blocks out n
thing that remotely resembles a head.
then he puts big daub Of black on 1t
for the eye that Is In shadow, a some
what different d::ub for the other one.
a streak Of crazy light, a touch Of red.
usually on the end Of the nose. and
81. hn luf 10
face looking out OF this awful mess.
but the fellow who isn't an artist can
see only what is there. and when 1t is
supposed to resemble his wife. even
though he may not love her as he oid in
the honeymoon days, he Is apt to say
sharp and foolish things to the poor
artist
Brockwell. who was quite unfamiliar
with the mechanics of portrait paint
ing. found criticism delightfully."- easy.
and Hardy found keeping his temper
distressingly hard. His only refuge
from open wrath was In the thought
that II Mr.. Brockwell abused the por-
trait Mrs. Brockwell was SO much the
more likely to receive II with favor.
And, after all. II was the woman that
ruled the household. Hardy saw that
everything Brockwell said was really a
minority report when he and his wife
sat in committee OF the whole.
Yet ON this occasion Brockwell was
making q very hard fight. and at one
time 1t looked as II he might win. He
was coming TO the studio almost every
day and had apparently subsidized
| some artist to teach him unpleasant
things to say.
In this emergency Hardy had one OF
those Inspirations that lead to really
great deeds He laid the case frankly
before Mrs. Brockwell
Your husband" said he. ais preju-
diced against me. He is determined not
to be satisfied. VIII you help me to
| conquer himr'
The lady hesitated. She was dimly
conscious that II was her duty to de-
fend her husband.
What do you wish me to dor she
asked
"wIll you help me to play q harm
less little trick upon hlmf' Hardy
pleaded. Il only want to show him how
inaccurate and unjust his criticisms
are
| This appealed to Mrs. Brockwell. She
had labored for many years to show
| her husband that he was inaccurate
and unjust about everything.
''The portrait Is almost finished"
/ Hardy continued. He is coming this
afternoon to see It. We will persuade
him that IL Is all done and framed. and
this is the way we will get at the sim
cerity OF his views. will seat you in
chair In that corner OF the studio.
will put this new frame on the easel.
and you will sit behind II. Then will
arrange Q background and details and