Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-16
ARTS
LIMITATIONS
When the Portrait Painter Called.


sang OF the studio. Fixing his race
and drawing a full breath. he rang
the bell OF apartment No. 81 and
awaited the event, his palette held
prominently before him and his black
leather box on the floor.
Little feet tripped along the hall in
side and the door opened.
She was, then, just about as thin as
they make them, and IL would be diff
cult to tell which OF her features chal-
lenged the glance with the creates: in.
sistence. Her hair was not as beautiful
as her eyes. nor her eyes as beautiful
as her nose, nor her nose as beautiful
as her lips, nor her lips as beautiful
as her chin. And as for her chin. she
had none. Yes, such was she who
opened the door of apartment 81 and
looked into the eyes of the artist.
Madame" said he. good morning."
whipped a pencil from his pocket and.
closing one eye, he squinted at her
over the tip OF this pencil with
heavenly look of rapture on his face.
Has any one ever told you." he ex-
claimed, with a sudden vigor. that
you would make perfect artists
model"
why, no." she said. "Why, no."
Then. madame. he cried. III
were to paint a lovely picture OF you
in oils-a full-length picture fit for
any gallery-and all for nothing. mind
you, all for nothing would It be too
much for me to ask you to tell admir-.
ing friends that Prof. Soulsky painted
it-Prof Soulsky Of the Munich art
school. Would that be asking too
much?"
Why. no." she said. "Why, no. All
for nothing. you say?"
"All for nothing" he graciously as
sured her. "All for nothing,"
why, no." she said. and. almost
blushing. she added why. I'd be
pleased to tell them"
But as her vacant look fell from her
stern voice called out from the
apartment within:
Margaret, You be careful"
There is no need for her to be care
full. madame." cried the artist through
the open door. 'If she will only con-
sent to sit for me I'll be more than
amply repaid" And turning again to
Margaret, Mr.. Faust added: you
know it's so hard to get start In this
this great city OF yours. Every enc
is so suspicious"
20, don't mind her." she whis-
pered.
Now, have here" whispered the
artist as he opened the black leather
box. "a package Of sealed envelopes
numbered from l to 100. Ninety-nine
of these are empty; the Tooth contains
card bearing these simple words.
Grand prize OF course there isn't
lady In New York, however grand
and however beautiful, who wouldn't
jump at the chance of getting a sonu-
inc Soulsky portrait-in oils-and so
| have adopted this method. You pick
an envelope-any. enveiope-it costs
yoi nothing and 1t commits you to
nothixg. And IL you draw the lucky
one. why, then. you do get your por-'
trait in oils for nothing. absolutely
nothing. ard that's all there is TO 1t.
Now. ANY card, Any card."
She drew a card. and taking It from
her the artist held 1t to the light.
by jove," he exclaimed in shaking
tones, you've won ~"
20. mother" she cried over her
shoulder. I've won H."
Look" cried the artist. and open
ing the envelope he drew forth card
bearing those simple words grand
prize"
%. isn't tina, grand" cried Mar
garet But then, was always
lucky."
Now. madame" said the artist. as
said before am a stranger in your
city. Just arrived from the great art
centers OF Europe. and my studio is
not yet fitted up as ! would Ike TO
have II. So II you will let me have a
cabinet photograph Of yourself viii
at once"
ASK him. cried the voice within,
IF any deposit is necessary"
Why. no. motheri" cried Marsaret
over her shoulder. Don't you under
stand7 I won the grand prize, and
turing To the srtis, she whispered: is
any deposit necessary
Only a dollar he hrrriedly vhis-
pcred back. First ins;ailmeat on the
beautiful frame furnish with each
and every picture OF course. yoE
understand that can hardly be ex-
pected 20 furnish the beautiful frame
for nothing as well as the picture.
do ycug-
Why. no. said Margaret 7
couldn't expect that
Is he tryins 10 sen frane.- cried
the voice within
~Mother,- exclaimed Margaret over
her ehoui~-- 4 tel Won I won the