Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-12-17

nfe-anythng-to paint what I want to paint"
What's the subject?" The American strolled back
TO his chair. The light too dim he could
Pierre leaned forward His eyes were of different
colors greenish yellow, sometimes
now-they had a curious CLEAN in them.
called Hour Death. A man
has been starved to death in a dungeon, chained,
that he and not reach a banquet spread be-
fore him. 1t is story of revenge that is told in my
Brittany have taken the hour before death, the
starved heap of bones just strung together
upon a thin wisp of life staring at the banquet"
What a CHASTITY subject" cried the Engishman.
Think of the possibilities, my friend 1t should
be great, 1T shall be great If can only find. It's all
done but the face can't get the They haunt
| can almost see what want, but can't be and
they must be real they must have the madness in
I have painted them out hundred times. The eyes!
Think of them! 1t would be great to put them
vas They must much, they must tell of the long
days and the gnawng hunger and the awful sight Of
food Just beyond the iron claws of clutching hands
The flesh of the face would have fallen away. only
bones and skin, drawn mask, but the eyes would
mainthe with their staring, with their madness
with their awful desirel"
ITS perfectly horrible-it's not art, Pierre!"
Not art-not artl What do you know about art.
Edwards? The hoarse half whisper did rise fall
but it tenser thrilling with the odd passion the
speaker. Art is truth and this will be truth-when
have found the You know nothing of art you
paint suave tidy landscapes that smell of the gardener
and grass seeds l have walked up and down this
old studio night after night looking for truth, trying to
see something OF hidden things You know picture,
The Felons Death 2"
Yes; horribly grewsome. one the mans soul
fear In his eyes at the sight of the guotine."
q" | watched the men walk from the prison to exc
cution before painted that The face painted was
They all like It. They haggard
and pale frightened but when they the guilotne,
mon Dieu! there was q change They turned lvid the
jaw dropped the upper lip twitched, CROPPED
at their threats and the fear bursting
watched them ALL they all the
so I could paint. Up there study of those
eyes with the death Little Paul afraid. Bah!
lie has turned his chair But 1t is real my
it is all so real true, absolute Now! l have
painted out the eyes OF the starved hundred
times The face is not good either have starved
people, but they haven't been close food the time
1t makes difference great difference. that
it must make difference? what do you know about
art? You make any sacrihces-never! You make
up unreal pretty prettinesses but truth. l have
caught something it, not all but glimpse and
there The critics say 1 real I not. l am nearer
than others, but real This picture will when
l have found the face and the And l shall find
them"
The night settled down heavily upon the town. The
light of the wood fire, yellow the yellow with
love of red In IT, fell Perres face The thin
the fierce burning of the curious eyes revealed
with all the suggestive revelation of freight
Il shall find Them Pierre repeated. Il shall find
them There will be "A curious light in them; they will
be red eyes, think The light will through
know the curious leap of light that through
from the soul. A mans soul maddened by hunger and
the awful desire, rushing through his eyes"
The others stirred uneasily Pierre mad, and
madness in great man is disturbing especially will
black night hatted against the windows, and the
of the hfeght revealing something of the iune
thrustng shadows about the gaunt,
you are dabolical Pierre" the Engshman said
You bad visit TO the morgue | Away.
smell the charnel house when talk"
My friend Pierre answered there is Sc mucl
the world that life merely a phase of il
Millions have died. The world is charnel hous
than dancing hall You miss this. pretty, suav
landscapes groomed trees, white sheep doll shepherd
are all products of decay and death don
that but l always conscious of it,"
Shut up Pierre; you are too ghoulish! Heaven