The daily Alaskan., 1906-10-01
What Came of a SCulliOn
IOrlginal1

chief cook of Siguor Faltero, wealthy Venetian gentleman living in France. signor FalIero had invited number of distinguished people to dinner. There were to be princes, nobles and mer- chants Of Venice and, more important than all, number of art critics. say more important than alr' because that was an age when the fine arts fourIShed and man who could judge of painting or a statue was looked up 10 more than one possessing birth or wealth At any rate, these men were of more Intrinsic worth than all the rest at this dinner of the Venetian.
 But what was amiSs in the kitchen? A coufeCtiouer who had been charged with making a large candy ornament to decorate the table had sent word that It had been spoiled and there was DO time 10 make another The chief cook storraed and tore hlS hair. Per lection was his aim. and what would all the delicacleS he had prepared avail without the gorgeous ceuterpiece?
 A boy who served as scullion ad- vanced and said in a timid voice:
 If you will let me, think l can make you something that will do in place ot the confectionery piece"
 "You Hrtouio? What do you know about fashionable thuSST'
 "I have worked in the yard of my grandfather. PiSano, the stonecutter."
 Nonsense, A stonecutter knows nothing about artistic work"
 The boy heSSrl hard, and as there was nothing else Co be done he was given permission to try his hand. He sent for some butter and fashioned 1t into a crouChiuC lion. IL was placed upon the table. and soon after the p,iuces. the merchants and the art critics were uShcrcd into the dining room. The chief cook wore melan- choly look. keeping hlS eye fixed on what he conSidered a blemiSh to an otherwise splendid table. The guests ranged themselves around the table and took seats.
 The cook saw one of the art critics looking dNedly at the butter lion, and the poor man lnwardly cursed the mo ment that he had consented to use the scuIl!uu'S work. Then he noticed that the art critic said something to the man sitting next to him. and they both looked at the lion The chief cooks knees trnmhINl beneath him. Surely hls master would discharge him for putting this fierce looking creatT.'- that was made ot such soft material before these great men. He had hoped they would not especially notice tt, and already two of them were looking al It and talking about it. But when several other groups laId down their spoons. neglertlnG the soup that had cost the chef >o much pains and began to stare at the ccntcrpieCe he was in despair
 "Slguor Faliero." said the man who had first noticed the lion, we are not surprised at your muuifceuCe in grac- ing your table with 8 work of genius, but We are at a loss to know how you obtained tue services of one who should consent to place the expression of bis genius in So pcriShable a substance as butter
 The host looked at the lion, then in- Quiringly at the chief cook. The latter had become SD confused over the out come of his substitution of few pounds of butter for splendid candy centerpiece that he did not hear or did not understand what the guest had said He broke down and confessed bis culpable folly.
 "Siguor." be said tremulouSly, par dou my lniQuity Just before the din ner was ready the cOntectioner sent word that be had spoiled the splendid candy cruterpieCc I had ordered and which would have been in every way worthy of your noble guests. When l was In great distress at thlS mjShap Antonio. the SculllOu. came to me and offered to make something to fill Its place. In an evil hour l listened to ~alm. If you and your noble guests will .orgive me I will remove the blemish.'
 For a moment there was hush of astoniShmeUt about the table; then the guest that had spoken, an eminent art critic. said to the chief cook:
 Do you mean to tell me that the lion was fashioned by scullion and shortly befo,c dinner?"
 "Yes, slgnOr. He begged so hard'-
 "Slcnors." said the critic. ''one of the worlds greatest geuiuses has been born"
 The boy. the boy. Let us see the boy" cried the guests.
 Send him ln." said the host to the cook.
 The mysti6cd servant retired and iu a few minutes returned, bringing wtih him the SCulItou.
 "Siguors." said the host. this is Boy. what's your name"
 Antonio Canova," said the aston ished boy.
 Then the critic. rising. held forth his wineglaSS and said
 Antonio Canova, drink to an art, ist. Gentlemen, drink with me to An