Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-10-05
DECADENCE
IN ART
BY AUTA POWELL
COPYRIGHT, t0l, IN Att,a patsea
By AUTA POWELL


voung lady's singular esteem for her
relatives opinions forced her to come
10 the same conclusion.
Nevertheless. when she announced
her ntenion of studying art. her ia
ther demurred. Ii was one thing to
have talent. but quite different mat.
ter TO depart from the beaten track,
and Polly's family had other views
for her.
'I.ct her marry and settle down.
said her father
But Polly's lips came together In a
very firm line. There were plenty of
women in the world. Let those who
felt inclined marry and be given in
marriage; as for her. she had mis-
sion in life and she meant to per-
form IT,
And she went about wearing such a
set apart expression that parental OBJ
jections gave way and she was allowed
one meager but soul inspiring year In
New York.
After that began the long battle
with publishers aud advertising bu-
reaus Dlscouragement she met Mt
first with the JOY OF resistance. but
that sort of JOY weakens with use
and surely poiiy's i'll luck was phe-
nomenal.
At last her cover for the Christmas
number of a magazine was accepted
and hope once more lit its lamp in her
breast. But when villainous litho-
grapher transformed her designs so
that nothing remained that she could
call her own, her stoicism gave way
utterly. and she folded her wings for
a season.
II was just at this juncture that the
Y. VI. O. d. c. made his appearance.
This title he acquired later on. when
she discovered that he was Young
Man of Dlabolical Cunning.
Polly had met him at more than one
function. and he swelled the list of
large and uninteresting bowling ac-
quaintance from which individuals
were once in long while selected TO
fill UP vacancies made by removals
and occasional Misunderstanding
Why should he call upon her? She
ran rapidly over her scant knowledge
concerning him as she came down to
meet him. Rather stiff and express
sionless. Rumored well of and on the
point OF marriage u some stranger.
Nothing very decided, nothing particu-
larry attractive.
The Y NJ. o. d. c. rose before she
had time to smile any glad to see you'
fibs.
Good morning, Miss Greenway. Per
haps / should apologize for troubling
you. but the truth Is am in a diem
ma and have come to you for advice"
Polly settled herself and became all
attention. man may be most unin-
terestlng, but the moment he asks for
advice he becomes in the eyes of the
woman he ia consulting a most discern
ing individual and decidedly worth cul-
tivating
"You probably are not aware that |
have been building house on Lincoln
street"
She believed she had heard 1t men
toned in connection with the home
coming of the stranger bride.
1T is completed" he continued, "and
Is now ready for the decorators. just
here is where want your advice.
There are lots OF professional dec
orators, but none Of my friends houses
satisfies me. Some of them have been
done by well known decorators. l
choose to think they show lack of in
dividuahty. Now, beg of you TO I'M
dertake the management of the whole
scheme of decoration and furnisaius.
oh, pray don't veto it." as Polly's eye
brows went up to her pompadour. It'll
you have heard me out. want eaca
room in my house TO be part of one
scheme and the keynote of the whole
thing to be simplicity. If you will un-
dertake it you shall have all the help
you wish--anything, everything you
need to carry 1t out. 1t is well planned
and well finished. l don't want it to
be ostentatious or handsome or have
any of those upholstery things, but to
be quiet, restful, artistic--a home in ev-
cry sense of the word"
But / don't believe I'm competent"
said Polly, TO whom the idea began to
appeal strongly-''in fact, am sure I'm
not"
Does that mean that you wouldn't
care to undertake itf"
"oh, dear, not think should like
1t above all things. / wish had taken
up that sort of thing at the art school"
Then let us so at once and look at
the house, and you can form your
plans.'
In five minutes they were on a car.
Polly was carried OF her feet. The
whole undertaking grew momentarily
more attractive, and as she was an in
yeterate castle builder. by the time the
car stopped at Lincoln street she had
become successful middle aged dec
orator.