Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-07-16
DAILY STORY
THE STATUE OF A
ROMAN SOLDIER
lOriginal.l

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 us if they had been living be
ings suddenly turned to stone. The
party had spent some time Oglingl
them when n foOtstep sounded on the
stairs and n man stepped in at the
door that had been left ajar. Seeing
a party of visitors within, he turned
to go 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 work. 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 n Roman sol
der. isn't 1t splendid? What an
admirable poisel He is evidently hold
ing up his shield 10 protect himself
from the arrows of his enemies
What's that on the shieldT 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,
81 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 Of 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 indicatcs?' he asked.
"Valor. 1t is the finest representation
of battle expression | 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, land
| look at this Spanish dancer"
at 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 ami
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, &c
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"
"Wen" continued the fault finder
keeping his eyes on the statue the while
in a growing antagonism, IF a man is
only an artist for critics he's no artist
at all. l 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-
ious.
Your friend" explained Miss Doug
las, sis making unfavorabIe criticisms
on work that has passed the best
critics in Paris
"Critics-' growled Williams. 81 don't
believe one of them knows whether
the man was a Roman soldier or a
Roman scavenger."
He kept looking at the statue, com
planning of one defect after another
q working himself up to n fury with the
work he condemned.
"You must admit that there is
bravery in his face" suggested Miss
Douglas. who was herself becoming
angry.
Bravery! I'll show you how much
bravery there is in him" And. picking
up a Scotch claymore intended fol
model use. he brought 1t down on the
statue, shivcring 1t into bits. Then he
stood regarding the party as if very
much ashamed of himself. Every eye
expressing horror, was on him.
Explain it. Theodore" he said. GIVE
mace an ass of myself and apologize.
Guthrie, though much troubled
showed an inclination to laugh. 81
blame myself" he said. ''for perpetrat
ing fraud. My friends. this is not
Mr.. Williams, but Chapman Barnes
The statue he has demolished repre-
= scented the Roman sentinel found
/ standing at his post at Pompei
y covered with ashes belched from
2 the crater of Vesuvius. AS Mis-.
e Douglas says, it has passed all TIE
y critics in Paris who pronounced 1t {
e wonder, and was to have been put II
l. marble at once"
t While Guthrie was explaining Mis-:
Douglas was giving ominous gulp'
n which ended In burst of sobs