Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-27

conceived a complimentary little piece
of acting that never failed to make an
impression. Edging quite near to the
picture, he would suddenly at favor
able moments emit piercing and
awful "Yi-yi!" leap high and away,
coming down with great stamp of
heels and whirling of rowels upon the
stone-1agged floor.
"Jeeminy Christopher''-so ran his
Thought that rattler was gin
u-ine one. Ding baste my skin II l
didn't. Seemed to me heard him
rattle Look at the blamed, uncon-
verted insect a-layin' under that pear.
Little more, and somebody would
a-been snakebit."
With these artful lodges, contrib
uted by Lonny's faithful coterie, with
the sonorous Kinney perpetually
sounding the pictures merits, and
with the solvent prestige of the pio-
neer Briscoe covering it as a precious
varnish, it seemed that the San saba
country could not fail to add repu-
tation as an art center to its well
known superiority in steer-roping con-
tests and achievements with the pre-
carious busted flush. Thus was Gre
ated for the picture an atmosphere,
due rather to externals than to the
artists brush, but through 1t the
people seemed to gaze with more or
admiration There was magic in the
name of Briscoe that counted high
against faulty technique and crude
coloring The old Indian fighter ana
wolf slayer would have smiled grimly
in his happy hunting grounds had he
known that his diletante grost was
thus figuring as an art patron two
generations after his uninspired ex-
istence.
Came the day when the senate was
expected to pass the bill of Senator
fxryn fhnIIdQn
dollars for the purchase OF the picture
The Tallery of the senate chamber was
early pre-empted by Lonny and the
San Saba lobby. In the front row or
chairs they sat, wild-haired, self-con-
scious, jingling, creaking and rafting;
subdued by the majesty of the council
hall
The bill was introduced, went to the
second reading, and then Senator Null
lens spoke for It dryly, tedtous'y ana
at length Senator Kinney then arose,
and the welkin seized the bellrope pre-
paratory to ringing. Ora'ory was at
that time living thing; the world nao
not quite come to measure its ques-
tions by geometry and the multip ica-
ton table. 1t was the day of the sill
yer tongue, the sweeping gesture, the
decorative apostrophe, the moving pc
roration.
The senator spoke. The San SABA
contingent sat, Dr6dIHlIE Haiu, III t"O
gallery, its disordered hair hang ng
down to it's eyes, it's 16-ounce hats
shifted restlessly from knee to knee.
Below, the distinguished senators eith-
er lounged at their desks with the
abandon of proven craftsmanship or
maintained correct attitudes indicative
of first term.
Senator Kinney spoke for half an
hour History was his theme-h1story
mitigated by patriotism and sentiment.
He referred casually to the picture IN
the outer hall-it was unnecessary, ne
said, to dilate upon its merits-the SEN
ators had seen for themselves. The
painter of the picture was the grand
son of Lucien Briscoe. Then came the
word pictures of Briscoe's life set
forth in thrilling colors. His rude and
venturesome life, his mple-m1noeo
love for the commonwealth he helped
to upbuild. his contempt for rewards
and praise, his extreme and sturdy in
dependence and the great services ne
had rendered the state. The subject OF
the grafton was Lucien Br,scoe; the
painter stood in the background, serv-
ing simply as a means, now happily
brought forward through which the
state might bestow tardy recompense
upon the descendant of it's favorite son.
the senators testified to the well recep-
ton of the sentiment.
The bill passed without an opposing
vote. Tomorrow it would be taken up
by the house. Already was it fixed to
glide through that body on rubber tires:
Blandford Grayson and Plummer, all
II. n. I'D nTnyidQn