Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-10-12
A Treasured Image



about perpetuating his beloved wife's
image In his heart He called together
the artists of his kingiotn and told
them whosoe ver avoulty,,aut Il portrait
Of hls queen by which he could re.
member her IS She was should be en-.
noblel aud an cs1te given him, Then
be ordered that all the lihenesses the
queen had ever had painted be hung
In gallery. where competitors should
have free access TO them.
More than buudred artists compel.
Ell and when an were ready their pic
lures were hung in a gallery by them
selves and the king went In to examine
them. He passed up on one side and
down the other. shaking his head at
the portraits.
They have painted her as an old
woman" be said. EDO they consider
that my beautiful wife was an octoge.
narianl Take them awayi I'll have
none OF them"
Some OF the artists who had pro
dnccd the best pictures, hearing tbs
kings criticism, asked for another trial.
which Was granted They softeued the
lines In the queens face and made her
look ten years younger than she had
been at the time OF her death. She
had died nj fifty and none Of the pic
lures made her look over forty The
king was stiIl dissatisfied, declaring
that he would rather trust To his men,
CRY unaided titan have II influenced by
such llkencsSes. This discouraged the
artists. and not even for the chance OF
title and fortune would any OF them
try again.
One day young man sought an in
tervlew VIZ the king. declaring that
he had been sem from King Ohio. a
nclgill,oring monarch. TO paint the dead
queens portrait. He claimed to be the
royal portrait painter and an artist Of
SKIN. He demanded. on behalf Of King
Ohio. that IL his portrait should be ae-
cepted the recompenSe should be the
hand OF King Carts daughter. the
Princess I.iia. for King othe's son. the
Crown Prince Ralph. 4 proposition
with this marriage In view had been
made before. but King Carl. whose
kingdom WAS much more important
than that Of King Ohio. had declined
Now that ali bis own artists had fail.
ed, and thinking that what he asked
was impossible. King Carl agreed to
the terms
The artist asked that he might have
sit;lngs OF the Princess Ida in order
o.. aarma. svvs .s.rs.--sfrrx ~ her ssses hoe.
she might have Inherited. The request
was granted. and every day the prin.
cess wcnt into the gallery where the
lIkencss.es of the dead queen were
hung. The artist copied from her fea.
lures all he cared 20 copy, bat In order
TO bring different expressions TO her
face he ehatteti with her necessarily.
aud she was so delighted with hts con
versation that every day she looked
forward expeetaniiy 10 the time Tor her
sitting. Long before the picture was
completed she wished that the prize x
won might be given to the artist rather
than the crown prince.
Finally the artist announced that bis
portrait WIS ready for the kings in.
speeiion. Since this was an affair OF
state King Carl summoned his min
listers la attend him. and with great
ceremony the royal party swept lato
the apartment where the picture rested
ON an easel. The moment the ministers
eyes rested on the portrait they look ed
Mt each other In establishment. They
saw the queen not as a woman OF tifty
or of forty. but at twenty. Soiae said
II was the Princess Ida and not the
queen at all. Nevertheless all main
tanned silence I'll the king had spoken.
Hurrying forward he bent over ii and
kissed the lips. For time he was
lost TO all save the contemplation Of
what seemed TO delight him excessive
ly. then, turning, he said:
MY lords. there il my beloved wife
as clearly defined as II the image had
been painted from the one carry in
my heart To me the portrait Is price
less. for having It constantly by me ]
shall be able TO keep my wife in my
memory as knew her ia life. Let the
foreign minister announce TO King
Ohio that the portrait is accepted. and
make arrangements for the wedding
between the Princess Ida and the
Crown Prince Ralph"
When the artist departed from the
kingdom the princess wept bitterly
that he had not won the prize for him
self instead Of for his sovereign. He
pressed her hand at parting and as
sured her that she would find the
prince loving husband.
When Prince Ralph came In state to
( the nuptiais he arrived In the night
and went at once with his suit 10 his
apartments. The next morning King
Carl and the princess awaited him in
the audience chamber with all the
court assembled to receive him. When
the door opened and he entered there
was hum of surprise. He was the
artist who bad painted the winning
| picture.