Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-10-12
THE SPURIOUS EXHIBITOR.

It was at an ordinary small hshmon-
gers shop in the back street OF suburb
that [ found him. Some kippered her
rings. the midribs of balibut, piece of
ice and some parsley composed the stock,
and the odor was such as one expects in
such a place He himself stepped for
ward from a little glazed counting house
as [ entered. He was a short, spare man,
with driedup appearance like the her
rings, and worried look about the eyes.
He was dressed mobtrusively in fish
| mongers apron.
"Yessir?" he said. ''Kippers is cheap
too
Thank YOU l said, stopping him. Il
am not wanting any fish today. My pur-
pose in coming is to interview you, if you
have no objection"
Interview me?" He looked almost
suspici0usly vacant
For Black and White" I said. ''You
are, | believe, Mr. Tosh, by profession u
fishmonger, but you paint III your spare
moments, and you sent in a picture TO
the Royal academy"
TIC lilGit ItittH S5oiSpSu
How did you know" he said
Its our business" [ said magnificent
iy. "The public likes to know these mat
tiers. so we fird out | may as well tell
you that. as a fishmonger, you're much
more likely to make hit with anything
you paint than you are as a mere artist
Mere artists are too plentiful, and
they've been to art schools and spent
their lives in having opportunities of
studying. You, of com Sc, never had any
opportunities 2"
Not many said Mr.. Tosh. ''I-''
you've always loved art. however" ]
interrupted. Exactly; and even as
child you used to paint?'
Mr.. Tosh nodded
do you remember if your father ever
beat you for drawing upon the white
washed walls of his cottage?" | inquired.
No
Perhaps your mother did," I said
hopefully. NO? Well, it's a pity we
can't work in any of these details"
My uncle used to beat me-" said Mr..
Tosh with sudden inspiration.
what for?" I demanded.
Running away from school. He
brought me up.
Quite So" L said. 'You were an or
Phan? 1t was your habit to steal away
from school into the woods and watch
the sunset, while you ought to have been
doing subtractions 1t is to this that
you attribute your ability to depict
clouds and trees, and
Figures are my subject" said Mr..
Tosh in rather a hurt way.
1T doesn't matter" | said. "You
gained your insight into the human fig
ure by watching the London crowds in
the London streets You longed to be
an artist, and every day the yearning
grew stronger. But your uncle prac-
teal man-himself a fshmonger-would
not near OF it. He apprenticed you to
his own business. You loathed 1T. You
were limited to the study of iI'-life
The only drawings you were able to
make were of Holsters, and your inspira-
uons were drawn from
I had paused to see if Mr. Tosh were
asserting to my sketch of his early life
and struggles-which | wished to have
accurate.
'Haddocks!" he said, completing the
sentence for me, with the most cunning
wink. That's right" he added. slvly.
You're the man for me. [ wish [ had
your imagination. [ tell you what,
though. I'll give you a couple of guineas
if my picture goes at the price | want for
it,
| had never seen a man so changed in
q moment The dull, vacant look had
vanished, and in its place was a prefer
natural sharpness.
That's what I'll do" be said. and
winked again.
What do you mean?" [ said indig-
nantly.
Don't you recognize me ?" he returned.
i thought you did IL" He
dropped his head guiltily; but it was too
late. [ had recognized him.
You're James Brown. the fireman.
who painted a picture called Hero Wait
ing for Leander' for the Academy last
year; you're Morton Griggs, the post
mama artist, who was doomed the wear be-
fore for his Cleopatra you're Rev. John
Pitts, the East End clergyman, whose
Massacre of the Innocents' was feature
IN 1900, because it was painted during
moments snatched while changing your
surplice in the vestry; you're George
Jennings, bo'sun of H. NJ S. Emerald.
who welded ali artists brush during the
long night-watches on the China seas.
md produced in 80 The Tussle of the
IfIfemes; you're | pursued the
Indictment as my memory served me. ]
had interviewed some Of these men my
self, but not until now had I recognized
that ore and all were the same and that
none other than the little man in front
OF me. You're fraud,' I ended up.
In sense he said sadly, Il am a
fraud. My name is Robinson, and [ am
IN reality an artist, and nothing else
These various businesses
Were assumed for the purpose of sell
ing my pictures. | found it was the only
way 1t 1T is fraud to pose as a cler-
gyman OF chimney sweep, instead of as
what you have called a mere artist
the public has encouraged it. 1t will buy
fshmonger's picture when it will buy
no other. | have a wife and family.
ask you not to denounce me-
Il must" | said sternly; and though
he pleaded with me at great length, |
have, as is plain, kept to that stern ne
cesslty he public must he defended at
all hazards p + NprDoco -