The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-02-29
Mr.. BarnickeI's 5 Portrait


Ioriginall
When Mr.. Barnickel got rich the
nrst thing be wanted was crest
which be found. though his title to u
was rather thin, and the next was his
portrait to hang In his drawing room
and to hand down 10 his descendants
% the lineaments OF the reinstitutor OF
the family. Arnold Elliott was at that
time the principal portrait painter In
ths city where Mr., Barnickel lived,
and to him Mr.. Barnickel gave the or.
Ger, agreeing to pay for the portrait
$500.
Now, although Mr.. Barnickel had
dealt In hides, an article not calculated
70 stimulate the imaginative faculty,
his imagination was strong. The mo
nent he set himself up as reinstitu.
tor Of his family he saw himself a fine
leoking. dignitled gentleman Of aristo-
cratic mien and benevolent counte-
nance. In truth. be was a crafty look.
ing man with money making nose.
he saw the picture Of himself grow.
ing up In the hands Of the artist as he
was and not as he thought himself.
Ne made several protests, but when
- attempted to point out the errors
- signally failed. He could not give
tAe artist his conception Of himself.
md the artist had no choice but to
paint him Is Mr.. Barnickel. When the
portrait was finished, there sat the
merchant looking for all the world as
4 he were buying a cargo Of hides.
When Mr.. Barnickel saw the portrait
- refused to accept Il on the ground
that his best friend wouldn't take It
lor him. '%a
A soon Is Mr.. Elliott got q little
spars time he hooked Mr.. Barnlckel's
portrait up against the wall Of his
studio. covered II with q sheet Of
drawing paper and on the paper
sketched prison bars. This done. be
cut out the paper between the bars.
having Mr.. Barnickel In limbo. On
derneath he placed the title of the pic
ture, "A Prisoner For Debt"
II was not long before one who knew
M. Barnickel well saw him behind
hrs. Had be loved Mr.. Barnickel be
would have gone to him at once with
the information. But he didn't love
Mr. Barnickel-few people did-so he
went about telling those who knew the
hide dealer Of the rare sight to be
Seen, and Mr.. Elliott's studio at once
became very popular. Indeed. from
among those who visited 1t to see "A
Prisoner For Debt he secured a num-
her Of orders.
The episode at last reached a mem
Der Of the Barnickel family. and the
family head was informed. The same
morning be drove up to Mr.. Elliott's
studio, alighted in a hurry. climbed the
stairs In anger and burst Into the stu
dio in a passion. There hung the pic
ture, and there sat the artist quiescent
at his easel.
what do you mean by perpetrating
that outrage" shouted Mr.. Barnickel.
pointing to the picture.
what outrage?" asked the artist
without discontinuing his work.
4Putting my portrait behind bars"
1Your portrait? That isn't your por-
trait. You said yourself that no one
would recognize It."
The merchant saw that he could not
demand the removal of the objection
able features without eating his words.
He went out, slamming the door be-
hind him. He had been triumphant In
TOO many deals to be beaten by a pic
ture maker; he would find a way to
get round the imposition"
But before he found this way he
heard that a new feature had been at
tached to the portrait. The artist Lad
removed the bars and the title, replac-
Ing the latter with the words you
Want Too Much"
The title fitted the expression on the
face SO well and Mr.. Barnickeps lido
syncrasies were SO keenly appreciated
that a new lot Of people came pouring
into the studio to see Old Scrouge, as
they called him, buying hides, though
some declared that he was disputing
the price of his portrait Mr.. Bar
nickel was made aware of the change
by receiving an anonymous letter In
quiring which of these two interpreta-
tons Of the title was correct
By this time the merchant had con-
suited his lawyer. who advised him
that the most satisfactory way out Of
the difficulty was to pay for the pic
ture and take it away. Therefore on
receipt of the anonymous note be drew
bis check for $500, jumped into his ear
riage and drove to Mr.. Elliott's studio.
On entering his eyes naturally sought
the picture. The expression had been
changed. Instead Of Mr.. Barnickel
beating down a seller, 1t was Mr.. Bar
nickel just having bought at his own
price. There was no title attached to
the picture. Instead a bit Of cardboard
rested upon 1t on which in big letters
was inscribed "Sold."
MIR. Barnickel saw the word and was