The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-12-24
: The CHANCE
or ART.
90. 10000
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BY LSAREL MOORE.
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Observation-Disclosures avssvssys u
n HE Murrays were o comfortable
i middle-aged couple with one
daughter, Katherine, who, as an only
daughter should be, was the pride o.
their lives. And in spite OF this
though it is hard to say how she man
aged it, she really was very attrac-
tive and sensible girl. Katherine was
away at school when certain events
transpired that led % portentous re-
suits.
1t all came about after this manner:
One day a short time before Christ
mas, Mrs. Murray went into an aue-
ton room not far from Sixth avenue
while an auction was in progress, and
though she only remained half an hour
she came away the possessor OF
good-sized oil painting. Mrs. Murray
had never been noted for her judg-
ment in matters artistic, whereas MIR
Murray laid some such claim to this
distinction; therefore it was with q
little trepidation of spirit that she an
nounced her purchase
May | ask the subject?' was his
suave inquiry.
Its nymphsthree, / think-im-
pressionistic treatment. The picture
really isn't worth anything at all, but
/ bid on it because of the frame. II
is q beautiful frame of California
redwood, quite wide and well made; il
would have been a pity not to have ta-
ken it at SO cents. y
rs that what you paid for it, pic
ture and all?'
Yes, and you couldn't get such g
frame under two dollars and fifty
cents"
.tWhat do you intend to put in it?'
'soh, I'll leave that to you; YOU
know so much more about such things
than / do, and I'm quite sure You vii
like the frame. Anyway, il you dom
fifty cents isn't any great matter
MIR. Murray laughed. He had heard
this form Of reasoning before.
Sounds attractive he unused, sim
pressionist nymphs; always was font
of lmpreSslonlst nymphs.
II tell you the picture isn't any
tning-it's the flame, reiterated Mrs
Murray with conviction Nevertheless
they both awaited its delivery witt
considerable interest.
.tAh," said Mr. Murray, viewing thei
new possession from safe distance
that's not so bad my dear; upon N,
word, it isn't. The green's are reall.
well handled and the figures are no
out of the way. In fact quite like tn
flesh tones, and the drawing is al
right, too
mo. it isn't SO bad as you say,
admitted Mrs Murray; but isn't tn
frame lovely"
Eyes IL is high class frame al
right enough: but quite like Tue pic
ture. !"
We'll, you know, I rather did, toe
though / hardly liked to say SO be
cause il 1t was really any good the
wouldn't have let me have it for fit
cents, would they?'
.0ne would hardly think so.
course it Is only rough study, neve
was intended for anything else, an
was probably done out on the coas
where redwood is cheap, for nobod
would be likely to buy such frame TO
it here. Signed too" and Mr. Murra
carefully examined the left-hand col
ner, "Theo. e. Butler-neyer heard c
him, but what's the odds; it is real1
very clever
Mrs. Murray looked exeeedingl
gratifed.
And think we shall put it up Jus
as it u.s." went on her husband, "a
first the color of the frame strike
one as being too great a contrast t
the cool tone OF the picture. but til
longer look at it the better lik
it,
"A man bid over me- conhded Mr.;
Murray, The said sixty cents and th
auctioneer said, sixty. sixty. sixty, di
/ hear sixty?' Surely / heard sixt
bid, but you know, the man didn't sa
it again. He probably thought bette
of it and made up his mind he didn
want it at any price; so 1t We
knocked down to me-
well. we must never tell anyor
what we paid for it, or, indeed whel
we got It. cautioned Mr.. Murray.
f<Oh, if anyone asks us we can jus
say it is the work OF d young art stu<
ent we know. Mr.. Butler, and tn;
he gave US il.
and that would account for nr
hanging it in a prominent place, too
agreed Mr.. Murray, who could not III
derstand his own extraordinary liEsin
for q 50-eent picture BY an unknown
Whereupon without more adieu the
put it up.
During the course Of the next fe'
days Mr.. Theodore e. Butler becan
known TO their circle Of friends. II
deed he was fntro&uced that yer
evening to Mr.. and Mrs. ingalls,, an
proceeded to take up his skeleton-ir
the-closet career.