The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1907-05-03
4 SURPRISED ARTIST
The Picture That Brought a For
tune to a Poor Painter.
AN AUCTION ROOM ROMANCE.
Dramatic Incident of the Sale That
Brought Dealer and Collector Into
Competition For the Starving Artists
Masterpiece.

Competition For the Starving Artists
Masterpiece.
Samuel Duhobret was poor painter
whom Albrecht Durer, the famous en-
graver and artist, had admitted into
his school out of charity. He was en-
ployed in painting signs and the
coarser tapestry then used in Germany.
He was about forty years of age, little,
ugly and humpbacked. He was the
butt of every ill joke among his fellow
disciples, but he bore all with patience
and ate without complaint the scanty
crusts given him every day for dinner,
while his companions often Jared
sumptuously.
Poor Samuel had not spice Of envy
or malice in his heart. He would at
any time have toiled half the night to
assist or serve those who were wont
oftenest to laugh at him or abuse him
loudest for his stupidity. True, he had
not the qualities of social humor or
wit, but he was an example Of indie
fatigable industry. He came to his
studies every morning at daybreak and
remained at work until sunset. Then
he retired into his lonely chamber and
wrought for his own amusement.
Duhobret labored three years in this
way, giving himself no time for exer-
else or recreation. He said nothing to
a single human being of the paintings
he had produced in the solitude Of his
cell by the light of his lamp. But his
bodily energies wasted and declined
under incessant toll.
One morning Duhobret was missing
at the scene of his daily labors. His
absence created much remark, and
many were the jokes passed upon the
occasion. No one thought Of going to
his lodgings to look after him or his
remains. Meanwhile the object Of
their mirth was tossing on bed Of
sickness. Disease, which had been
slowly sapping the foundations Of his
strength, burned in every vein; his eyes
rolled and flashed in delirium; his lips,
usually so silent, muttered wild and
incoherent words. In his days Of
health poor Duhobret had his dreams,
as all artists, rich or poor, will some
times have. He had thought that the
fruit of many years labor disposed of
to advantage might procure him enough
to live, in an economical way, for the
rest of his life. He never anticipated
fame OF fortune. The height of his am
bition or hope was to possess a tene-
ment large enough to shelter him from
the inclemencies of the weather, with
means enough to purchase one COM
Portable meal per day.
Now, alas, however, even that one
hope had deserted him. He thought
himself dying and thought it hard to
die without one to look kindly upon
him, without the words of comfort that
might soothe his passage to another
world. He fancied his bed surrounded
by fiendish faces, grinning at his suf
ferings and haunting his inability to
summon power to disperse them. At
length the apparitions faded away, and
the patient sank into an exhausted
ISlumber.
He awoke unrefreshed. 1t was the
fifth day he had lain there neglected.
His mouth was parched. He turned
over and feebly stretched out his hand
toward the earthen pitcher from which
since the first day of his illness he had
,quenched his thirst. Alas, it was emp
'ty! Samuel lay for a few moments
thinking what he should do. He knew
he must die of want if he remained
there alone. But to whom could he
apply for aid in procuring sustenance?
An idea seemed at last to strike him.
He arose slowly and with difficulty
from the bed, went to the other side
Iof the room and took up the picture he
had painted last. He resolved to carry
lit to the shop of salesman and hoped
to obtain for it sufficient to furnish
him with the necessaries of life for n
week longer. Despair lent him strength
Ito walk and to carry his burden. On
his way he passed house about which
there was a crowd. He drew nigh,
asked what was going on and received
for an answer that there was to be
sale of many specimens of art collected
by an amateur in the course of thirty
years. 1t has often happened that col
llections made with infinite pains by
the proprietor were sold without mercy
lor discrimination after his death.
Something whispered to the weary
lDuhobret that here would be the mar
ket for his picture. 1t was long way
yet to the house of the picture dealer,
and he made up his mind at once. He
worked his way through the crowd,
dragged himself up the steps and
after many inquiries found the auc-
ltioneer. That parsonage was a busy,
important-like man, with handful of
papers. He was inclined to notice
somewhat roughly the interruption of
the lean, sallow hunchback, imploring
as, were his gesture and language.
what do you call your picture?" at
length said he, carefully looking at it.
1T is view of the Abbey of New
lhOTIrU with itS villa0o aOd fho err.