Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-07-24
TIE Statue Of a
Roman Soldier.

lOriGinall
A party of Americans in Paris were
permitted to visit the studio of Chap
man Barnes, a famous sculptor, also
an American. They were piloted by
Theodore Guthrie, who announced that
Mr.. Barnes would not be present. This
disappointed Miss Mabel Douglas, an
art teacher in the schools at home. who
desired to meet the artist.
Guthrie produced key, opened the
door of the studio, and the party en-
tered. There was a grim silence about
the place, in which finished and half
finished figures stood looking at one
another as if they had been living be-
ings suddenly turned to stone. The
party had spent some time ogling
them when footstep sounded on the
stairs and man stepped in at the
door that had been left ajar. Seeing
a party Of visitors within, he turned
to 60 away. Guthrie followed him
and after short conversation brought
him back.
"This Is my friend Mr.. Williams"
he said, "a fellow countryman Of ours
and friend Of Mr.. Barnes"
Mr.. Williams Joined the party, and
they continued to admire the works of
art in his company. Miss Douglas, be-
Ing an artist, was pointing out their
beauties, while the others listened to
her remarks with every attention
Look at this one," she said, stopping
before plaster cast Of a Roman SOL
der. isn't 1t splendid? What an
admirab bic poise! He is evidently hold
ing up his shield to protect himself
from the arrows Of his enemies"
"What's that on the shieldY' asked
one of the party.
THAT'S undoubtedly snow. Prob
ably he was one of Caesars men fight
ing in Helvetia, which was the ancient
name for Switzerland. Don't you think
so, Mr.. Williams?'
Really stammered Mr.. Williams,
II don't know. Only these artists can
tell what they intend to represent.
Mightn't that substance on the shield
be ashes?''
"Ashes" exclaimed Miss Douglas.
whoever heard If the people of that
day fighting wit. ashes. Besides, the
texture Is not that of ashes. It's snow.
He must be fighting in a snowstorm.
The enemy is on heights above him."
Mr.. Williams stood studying the
statue.
what do you suppose the expression
on the face indicates?' he asked.
"Valor. 1t is the finest representation
Of battle expression l ever saw Only
Chapman Barnes could have executed
1t. There are courage, anger, all the
passions one would expect in action"
Come here" called Guthrie, "and
look at this Spanish dancer
ut seems to me-" said Mr.. Williams,
that If an artist can't make plain
what the figure he molds represents
he'd better throw down his tools and
give up the job
The words produced something of a
shock to the members Of the party.
They were there by permission of the
artist, and any fault finding was, to
say the least, i'll bred.
"Only those" said Miss Douglas,
"who have some knowledge Of art and
the subject portrayed can interpret an
artists meaning"
"Well," continued the fault finder,
keeping his eyes on the statue the while
In growing antagonism, IF man is
only an artist for critics he's no artist
at all. I don't like the thing anyway.
The fellow looks to me as If he were
one Of a party of scavengers and his
helpers were dumping an ash barrel on
him from an upper window"
ooh, Mr.. Williams!" exclaimed Miss
Douglas.
whats the matter?" asked Guthrie,
Joining the disputants. He looked anx-
iOJs.
"Your friend" explained Miss Doug
las, lis making unfavorable criticisms
on work that has passed the best
critics In Paris.' r.. ~. .
'tCritics!' growled. Williams. II don't
believe one Of them knows whether
the man was Roman soldier or
Roman scavenger.''s .s....=s u : I.
s He kept looking at the statue, com.
planning Of one defect after another,