The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-08-19

painting with tirelsss zeal. Reasoning
not unshreWdly. they estimated that
their comments upon its fidelity TO
nature would be- received as expert
evidence. Loudly they praised the
skill 0f the painter whenever there
we've ears near 20 which such evidence
might be probably addressed. Lem
Perry. the leader Of the claque. had
somewhat set speech. being uuin-
ventive I'm the construction Of new
phrases.
Look az that two-year-old. now he
would say. waving a cinnam0n-brcwn
hand toward the salient point Of the
picture. why. dang my hide, the
critters alive. can jest hear him.
Iumpetv-lump' a-cuttin' away from
the herd. pretendin' he's skeercd Hes
q mean scamp. that there steer Look
~ his eyes a-Wallin' and his tail a.
wayin' He's true and uarral 90 life.
Hes fest haukcrIn fur a COW pony 20
round him mp and send him scootn'
back % the bunch. Dang my hide' jest
look ar that tail Of hisn a-wavin'.
Never knowed steer 20 wave his tail
any other WAY. dang my hide ef
did"
Jud Shelby, while admitting the ex-
crlloncc Of the steer, resolutelv con-
fined himself TO open admiration OF
the landscape, % the end that the en-
tire picture receive its need u praise
THAT piece Of range" be declared.
els a dead ringer for Dead Ioss Val
ley. Same grass. same lay Of the land.
same old Whlpperwiu Creek skaliy-
h0otin' ia and out OF them motifs 90
timber. Them buzzards on the left ia
circIin' round over sam kiidrake. =
old paint boss that killed hiSseit over
drinkin' on a hot day. You cant see
the boss for that mott OF eliums on
the creek. but he's thar. Anybody
that was COINS 20 look for Dead HosS
Valley and come across this picture.
why, he'd Jest light offn his bronco
and hunt q place 10 camp
skinny Rogers. welded 20 comedy
conceived a complimentary little piece
Of acting that never fa-.el to make an
immersion. E6glng quite near 10 the
picture. he would suddenly. at favor
able moments. emit a piercing ana
awful .'Yi-yi'" leap high and away.
coming down with a great stamp oI
heels and whjrriug Of r0Weis upon the
stone-n7ggsd floor.
.'Jeeming Christopher. ran his
Ines-"thought that RATHER was a gin
u-ine one. Ding haste my skin II l
didn't Seemed 10 me heard him rat
tie. Look at the blamed. unconverted
insect a-layln' under that pear Little
more. and somebody would a-been
snake-bit.'
With these artful lodges. contributed
nv Tonrv's faithful Coterie with the
sonorous Kinney perpetually sounding
rne nict11re'S merits and with the sol
vent prestige OF the pioneer Briscoe
covering fl like a precious varnish, II
seemed that the san Saba country
could not fail 10 add a reputation as
an art center 10 its well-knOwn super
i0ritv in steer-roping contests and
achievements with the precarious bust
ed flush. Thus was created for the pic
ture an atmosphere. due rather TO eX-
ternaIs than 20 the artists brush. but
through it the people seemed TO gaze
with more OF admiration. There was
a magic I'm the name of BriscOe that
counted high against faulty technique
and crude Coloring. The old Indian
fighter and wolf-slayer would have
smiled grimIy IN his happy hunting
grounds had he known that his dillet-
tante ghost was thus figuring as an
art patron two generations after his
uninspired existence.
Came the day when the senate was
expected 20 pass the bin of Senator
MuHens appropriating two thousand
dollars for the purchase Of the picture.
The gallery Of the senate chamber was
early pre-empted by Lonny and the
San Saba lobby In the front row of
chairs they SAT. Wild-haired. self-con-
~ TT NY q