The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-09-21
n HEv," said Mr.. Hoskins, made
will be the picture OF the year

will be the picture or the year
that liz, So far as visitors 10
Rome are concerned. | do not exhibit
at the French Scion, nor at the Eng
fish Academy. | fnd'-and Mr.. Hos
dns ran his hand through his hair and
smiled eomplacently--"that Rome suf-
fees me. My pictures need no other
setting than Rome. Tho memories of
the Caesars are enough to hallow their
very frames. Rome and nehemiah
Hoskins are old friends. WHAT"
This "What?' was one of Mr.. Hos
kins's favorite expressions. 1t finished
all his sentences interrogatively. It
gracefully implied that the person TO
whom he was speaking had said, or
was going to say. something. n 1t po-
litely expressed Mr.. Hoskins's w be-
lief that no one would or could be SO
rude as to hear his eulogies of himself
without instantly corroborating and en-
larging them. Therefore, when. on tho
present occasion, Mr.. Hoskins said
"What?" il was evident that he ex-
pected me to respond. and make my
self agreeable. Unfortunately. I had
no batteries ready; fattery does not
como easy to me, but I was able to
Siiiiic. AiloCCht L AVhbo ~ iiANa
to smile just then; the intimate asso-
citation of the W names. Rome and
"Hoskins," moved me to this pleasant
ness. Then, without speaking. I took
up a good position in the studio, and
looked at the Daphne"
There was not the least doubt in the
world that II was a very fine picture,
Drawing, grouping, colorins. all were
as near perfection as human brain and
hand could possibly devise. The scene
depicted was the legended pursuit OF
Daphne by Apollo. 1t was an evening
landscape; a young moon cleaned In
the sky, and over a field of nodding
lilies came the amorous god, with fly
ing feet, and hair blown backward by
the wind, his ardent, poetic face glow
ing with the impatience and 1erceness
of repulsed passion. Pale Daphne, turn
ing round In fear, with hands uplifted
in agonized duplication, was already
changing into the laurel; half of her
flowing golden tresses were trans
formed into clustering leaves. and from
her arched and slender feet the twisted
twigs of the tree of Fame were swiftly
s%pringing upward. The picture was 9
large one: and for ideality of concep'
ton, bold treatment. and harmony o.
composition would have been constd
cred by most impartial Judges. whit
nave no "'art-clique" to please, a mar
velous piece of work. Yet the wonde
of 1t to me was hat 1t should hav'
been painted by Nehemiah p. Hoskins
The Daphne" was grand, but Hoskin
looked mean. and the contrast was sin
gular. Hoslxins, with his creased ant
scented hair, his velveteen coat, hi
! flowing blue tie, and his aggressive
! self-appreciative, "up-to-date" Amer
lean "art" manner. clashed with the
beauty of his work discordantly.
I presume" he said, twirling hl'
mustache with a confident air, tina
! picture is worth It's price. What?'
at Is very fine. very fine, indeed, MT
Hoskins," / murmured. What are
you asking for it?"
Fifteen thousand dollars is my
price," he answered, jauntily. "Ant
cheap it is It that. My friends tell ms
il is far too cheap. But what mat
ter? I am not hampered by mercenary
considerations. I work for the work
sake. Art is my goddessl Rome II
my altar of worship! I VIII no
debase myself for my profession b,
vulgar bargaining. When I first Sc
this picture up on the easel for eX'
hibition, I said fifteen thousand dollars
would content me. Since that time M
countless admirers have ~reproached me
saying, You ask too little, Hoskins
you arc too modest; you do not realiz'
your own greatness. You should de
mand a hundred thousand 10 -"
but no! Having said fifteen thousand
stick TO 1t. 1 know 1t is cheap
ridiculously cheap, but never mind
J there are more ideas still left in thu
brain that produced this work
What"
Indeed, I hope So" | said, earnestly
endeavoring to overcome my dislike %