The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-01
The Statue Of q
Roman Soldier.
forigtaaLl


man Barnes, a famous sculptor. also
an American. They We're 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 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 a footstep sounded on the
stairs and a man stepped in at the
door that had been left ajar Seeing
party of visitors within, he turned
to go away. Guthrie followed him
and after a short conversation brought
him back
This is my friend Mr.. Williams"
he said, "a fellow countryman of ours
and a 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 a plaster cast of a Roman sol
der. Isn't it splendid? What an
admirable poisel He is evidently hold
ing up his shield to protect himself
from the arrows of his enemies"
Whats 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,
''I 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 witt ashes. Besides, the
texture is not that of ashes. It's snow.
He must be fighting IN d 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, 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 and
give up the job
The words produced something of 6
shock to the members of the party
They were there by permission of the
artist, and any fault finding was, t.
say the least, i'll bred.
"Only those" said Miss Douglas
''who have some knowledge of art anC
the subject portrayed can interpret al
artists meaning"
"WeH," continued the fault finder
keeping his eyes on the statue the Will,
in a growing antagonism, 'if a man il
] only an artist for critics he's no arts
! at all. l don't like the thing anyway
2 The fellow looks to me as If he wer
one of a party of scavengers and hi
helpers were dumping an ash barrel Of
! him from an upper window"
: ooh, Mr. Williamsw exclaimed Mis-
. Douglas.
. whats the matter?' asked Guthrie
joining the disputants. He looked anz
ious.
your friend explained Miss Dous
las, sis making unfavorable criticism
y on work that has passed the bes
critics In Paris'
: Critics. growled Williams. Il don
r believe one Of them knows whethe
IS the man was a Roman soldier or
Roman scavenger."
He kept looking at the statue, con
t. planning of one defect after anothe
II working himself up to fury with tt
- work he condemned.
" "You must admit that there
IS bravery in his face" suggested Mi:
} Douglas, who was herself becomir
re angry.
ID Bravery! I'll show you how muc
h bravery there is in him" And, pickiI
is up a Scotch claymore intended fl
model USE he brought it down on Il
statue shivering it into bits. Then
~ stood regarding the party as If vel
m much ashamed Of himself. Every ey
~ expressing horror, was on him.
Explain it, Theodore" he said. 'I''
made an ass of myself and apologize
I. Guthrie. though much trouble
showed an inclination to laugh
ed blame myself" he said. for perpetrs
ing a fraud. My friends, this is n
Mr.. Williams, but Chapman Barne
m The statue he has demolished repI
Is scented the Roman sentinel -four
>" standing at his post at Pofnp'
- covered with ashes belched fro
- the crater Of Vesuvius. AS Mi
ne Douglas says. it has passed all t
rk critics in Paris. who pronounced 1t
l. xrO1dar and raa RI havn hpp0 mt