Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-20
THE MESSAGE
BY LOUIS TRACY.
Copyright. 1905. By Edwsrd J. ciods.,

squeeze his huge bulk through so small a
hatchway.
Warden also stood up.
After that there is but one course open
to u.s." he said. and drew in the dinghy's
painter until he was able to secure the
gourd.
He was on his knees when he lifted II
In both hands and turned 1t round to
certain what ii was that had so upset his
stout friend. In reviewing his first i'm
pressions subsequently. he arrived at the
conclusion that close familiarity with the
features Of the West African negro must
have blunted his mind to the true sig
nif1cance Of the hideous face that scowlsd
at him from the rounded surface of the
calabash. He paid heed only to the ex-
cellence OF the artist-none to the mes
sage OF undying hatred OF every good inn
pulse in mankind that was conveyed by
the frowning brows. the cruel mouth. the
beady. snakelike eyes peeping through
narrow Sits cut in the outer rind. Were
he would have imagined that some long
forgotten doyen of the Satsuma school
had amused himself by concentrating in
a human face all that Is grotesque and
horrible in the Japanese notion of a de-
mon. But there was doubling the
identity Of the racial type depicted. War
den could even name the very tribe that
supplied the model. A curious crinkled
ring that had formed round the gourd
near the upper part OF its egg-shaped cir
conference suggested the quoit-shaped
ivory ornament worn by the men OF Oku.
Oku used to be plague spot In West
Africa. It Is little better today. but its
virus is dissipated by British rule.
Warden's kindling glance soon detected
other important details. The raised ring.
and certain rough protuberances that
might have borne a crude likeness to
mans face when the gourd was in it's
natural state were utilized with almost
uncanny ingenuity to lend high relief to
the carving Indeed. the surface had been
but slightly scored with the artists knife.
Half-lowered eyelids. a suggestion OF
parted lips and broad nostrils. deep
creases across the british TO- and
sinister droop to each corr of the
mouth-these deft touches revealed at
once the sculptor's restraint and power.
smooth and shining laquer. the ivory ring
by scraping OF the rind that laid bare
the yellow pith. No characteristic was
over-accentuated. The work offered
rare instance of the art that conceals art.
And Warren felt that none but an artist
worthy to rank with the elect could have
conceived and carried out this study OF
some fierce negro despot. That it was .
genuine portrait he did not doubt for
moment It seemed to him that In It's
creation hate and fear had gone hand in
hand with marvellous craftsmanship. Tho
man who exercised such cunning on the
inferior material provided by a rough
coated calabash was not only inspired by
the pride Of conscious power, but meant
to leave an imperishable record OF saw
age tyrant in his worst aspect. A great
Italian painter. thinning his idea OF the
Last Judgment. gratifed his spite by
placing all his enemies among the legion
of the lost This unknown master had
taken a more subtle revenge. 1t was pos
sible that the black chief. had he seen 1t.
would have admired his counterfeit pre-
sentiment. It demanded a more cultured
intelligence than Oku society conferred
to enable him to appreciate how plainly
an evil soul leered from out q dreadful
mask.
In no respect was the truth Of the
image more convincing than in the treat
ment Of the eyes. A minute mosaic OF
chalcedony was used to portray white and
iris and cornea. Small pieces Of clear
crystal formed the pupils. and the rays
of light glinted from their depths with
an effect that was appalling in its real
ism. Thus might the eyes Of a cobra
sparkle with vindictive fire. They exer-
cised q diabolical mesmerism. Warden.
rapt in his admiration Of q genuine work
OF art, remained wholly unconscious OF
their spell till he heard Q faint gasp Of
horror from the girl.
He turned and looked At her IN quick
dismay. All the roses had hed from her
cheeks. leaving her wan indeed. Her own
like Peter Evans. gave no heed to the
consummate skill OF the designer. She
was fascinated at once by that basilisk
glare. 1t thrilled her to the core. threat
ened her with tmmeasurable wrongs, mems
aced her with the spite Of . demon.
This il the most wonderful thing OF
its kind I have ever seen." said Warden.
eagerly.
(To be continued tomorrow.)