Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-12-02
G R TICIS NJ.


fulr'
Thompson demanded modestly, "You
have no criticism TO maker
To which they replied in chorus,
'Noner'
One, however, probably seized with
4 burning desire to distinguish him
self, hazarded In a timid voice: only
one, Thompson; only one--no more. 1t
Is too fine"
And his companions all echoed the
sentiment. True, true. We were go
Ing TO say the same ourselves. 1t Is
too fine"
The sculptor exhibited bis master
piece, convinced that II would revolu-
tionize the whole artistic world. II not
the very art OF sculpture itself. As for
the mob, IL would be taken by storm.
But the mob was much more stupid
than even Thompson had fancied. II
absolutely refused to be taken by
storm. The artistic world behaved ex-
Rctly like the mob.
Thompson sent again for his friends.
I'VE told you so. you know" said
they In unison. I'VE said IL was too
fine"
Dear me, but that isn't a fault, is
it,"
The friends burst into a laugh.
wen, Thompson, you are green, and
no mistake"
Tell me what I am to do then"
Here one Of the group who had not
spoken whispered into Thompson's ear:
we don't mind giving you a point
or two-at least 1 don't-but these are
little matters which must be done In
private. separately"
Il understand" said Thompson CRATE
fully. So the sculptor sent TO the gal
lery for his statue, resolved to demand
Of each Of his friends separately what
there was about # that was especially
too fine
The first conner. n baldheaded man.
examined the work anew carefully.
Your statue" said he, has a most
ridiculous head OF hair Il looks to me
very much like a wig. People don't
have hair like that II is absurd.
Look at my head"
Thompson swept or the flowing locks
with a few strokes Of his chisel and
polished the Uranium OF his master
piece after the fashion OF the living
model before him.
"Splendidr' cried the baldheaded
man.
The second 10 turn up was a knock
kneed party.
Your statue. Thompson" said he.
rs fitted with most preposterously
straight legs. Such an absolutely YER
teal line Is inadmissible. Where have
you ever seen legs Ike thosel Not on
me- for example. And you know. old
fellow" he added, reality before all"
Thompson groaned. He seized his
chisel, followed out the neither limbs
In fact. from the legs OF Apollo he
managed TO make a fair copy OF those
OF his friend.
"Bravo!" declared the knockkneed
man.
The third was a one armed man.
Look here. Thompson" he said con-
ndentially, between you and me. two
arms are I'll very well. Arms are all
right IN their place. but think OF the
Venus de Milor'
Yes" objected Thompson. ct know
The Venus de Milo has no arms now.
but you don't mean TO assert that she
never had anyT"
II do indeed. An, what a daring gen
ius was her SCULPTOR
'NOt more than L." cried the excited
Thompson. With a blow OF his ham
mer he severed the right arm OF his
statue. He was just on the point OF
serving the left in the same fashion
when his friend stopped him.
mo, no; not too much zeal. not too
much imitation either. One will do. I
assure you"
you think SOP said Thompson.
Il am sure OF IT," responded the one
armed man.
And so on with half a dozen other
friends. One found fault with the nose.
whose own was broken. A cripple and
a great poet asked pleasantly:
Now, whatever use are those legs
at allr'
Thompson gasped:
why. to hold him upr'
Nonsense. I haven't got any such
things. You don't hear me complain OF
not being held up"
Thompson saw the point. By this
time the statue was little more than q
shapeless block OF marble. The last OF
Thompson's friends was an Ethiopian.
a highly cultivated and apprecIative
person.
"A fine piece OF work." said he. very
fine indeed. But the color is unbear-
able"
Thompson covered the statue with
coating OF black paint.
The following day the friends all
came to the studio in a body. They
were enchanted. Again the statue was
put on exhibition
Magnificent! Mystici WONDERFUL
cried the public. They thronged the
gallery from morning till night.
1t is true nobody understood II, but
that was the best OF II, because IL
gave the critics a chance 10 invent
theories. They are still explaining
Thompson's masterpiece. AS for Thomp-
son himself. he IS thinking of going out
to America as a bricklayer or stone
mason or something OF that sort. HIS