Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-06-23

"Did you ever hear Of Sherrard Plu
merT' he asked. with strange smile
81 remember the name" said Chal
mers. He was a painter, think, OF
a good deal of prominence few years
ago"
"Five years." said the guest. Then
went down like chunk of lead. I'm
Sherrard Plumer. sold the last por
trait painted for $1,000. After that
couldn't have found sitter for a
gratis picture"
what was the trouble?" Chalmers
could not resist asking.
Funny thing" answered Plumei
grimly. Never quite understood II
myself. For awhile swan like Il
cork. broke into the swell crowd
and got commissions right and left
The newspapers called ME a fashiona
BILE painter. Then the funny things
began to happen. Whenever | finished
a picture people would come to see II
and whisper and look queerly at one
another.
81 soon found out what the trouble
was. | had knack Of bringing out in
the face Of portrait the hidden char,
acter of the original. don't know how
| did it-I painted what saw-but !
know 1t did me- Some Of my sitters
were fearfully enraged and refused
their pictures | painted the portrait
Of very beautiful and popular society
dame When 1t was finished her hus-
band looked ut 1t with Il peculiar ex
preston on his face. and the next week
he sued for divorce.
81 remember one case Of promi'
nent banker who sat to me. While !
had his portrait on exhibition in my
studio an acquaintance Of his came In
to look at it. Bless me- says he. does
he really look like thatT told him 1t
was considered faithful likeness. i
never noticed that expression about his
eyes BEFORE said he. I think I'll drop
down town and change my bank ac-
count He did drop down. but the
bank account was gone. and so was
Mr.. Banker.
ut wasn't long till they put me out
of business. People don't want theii
secret meannesses shcwn up In q pic
ture. They can smile and twist their
own faces and deceive you. but the
picture can't. couldn't get an order
for another picture. and had to give
up. worked as q newspaper artist
for awhile and then for photographer.
but my work with them got me into
the same trouble. Ii drew from
photograph my drawing showed up
characteristics and expressions that
you couldn't find in the photo. but !
guess they were in the original, all
right. The customers raised lively
rows. especially the women, and |
never could hold job long. So be-
gan to rest my weary head upon the
breast Of Old Booze for comfort. And
pretty soon | was in the free bed line
and doing oral fiction for handouts
among the food bazaars. Does the
truthful statement weary thee. U
caliph? can turn on the Wall street
disaster stop If you prefer. but that
requires a tear. and I'm afraid ! can't
| hustle one up after that good dinner.
mo, no." said Chalmers earnestly;
"you interest me very much. Did all OF
your portraits reveal some unpleasant
| trait, or were there some that did not
| suffer from the ordeal Of your peculiar
| brushT
"Some? Yes" said Plumer; children
| generally. a good many women and a
sufficient number of men. All people
aren't bad. you know. When they
were all right the pictures were all
right. As said. don't explain 1t. but
I'm telling you facts"
On Chalmers writing table lay the
photograph that he had received that
day in the foreign mail. Ten minutes
later he had Plumer at work making g
sketch from It in pastels. At the END
of an hour the artist rose and stretched
wearily.
"It's DONE" he yawned. you'll ex
cuse me for being 80 long. i got Inter
ested in the Job. Lordy. but I'm tired
No bed last night. you know. Guess
It'll have to be good night now, o com
mander Of the faithful!
| Chalmers went as far Us the doo
with him ard slipped some bills Int
his hand.
"Oh. I'll take 'em!" sail Plumer
"All that's included IN the fall
l Thanks. und for the very good din