The daily Alaskan., 1910-01-17
UNCONSCIOUS GOOD.
Ru E. A. MIrcHEL.

ciationl was an artist struggling for recog' hilton. I had painted picture after picture in the hope of winning reputa- ton and had failed. A friend said to me. "Paint something from the heart"
 I resolved to take his advice Months passed while was trying to find q sub- feet. Then | decided to attempt to paint the face of good woman. She might be beautiful, but she must be good. Then hunted a long while for model. I found none. There were comely models and there were models who were good, but the good was not stamped upon the features to a degree required. At last 1 gave up trying to find model except for the purely physical part of the picture, l selected one who would do very well in this re- spect and put her face on the canvas Then I paid her and sent her away.
 My work now commenced. ! should not call 1t work. for creation is not work. If 1t Is work 1t is worthless. And yet what I did was work. This I know, because it was worthless. l painted over my canvas till the paint was too thick to take on more, then transferred the face to another and recommended. Three months passed. I had made several such transfers, and every canvas had become a daub. Finally transferred the face once more and, before beginning to put on what was attempting, decided to take a rest.
 I soon began to think that my rest so far as that especial picture was concerned would never end. It seemed to me that to produce a face typical Of the good without a model must neces- sarlly be a failure.
 One day saw a girl in a trolley car. She sat directly opposite ne. What man is there who has not seen some woman for the first time and said to himself. That's the woman l wish for my wife" This l said to myself. I sat for a long while looking at the face, and when the girl at last got out of the car it was indelibly fixed in my memory.
 went to my studio and put it on canvas. Before I arose from my seat at the easel my object was accom- plished-that is, the expression l de- sired to produce was there.
 When my picture was finished submitted it to several critical people. They all pointed out its faults, but if what had so coveted was there none of them discovered it. However, l had sufficient influence to secure a place for my production in a promi- neut gallery. It was hung near fa- nous picture. watched the throngs pass mine seeking for its great rival. "Where is it?" they all asked referring to the latter. "Therew They approach ed 1t reverently and stood gazing on 1t admirlugly.
 If this picture is so great why do these people need to have it pointed out to them?" I asked.
 But there may have been envy in my heart.
 Occasionally one would pause before my picture, but not for long, and soon gave up hope that 1t would se- cure me recognition.
 While 1t was hanging in its place was a frequent visitor to the gal lery. l loved to look at it. Was this because it pictured the face that had attracted me or because 1 believed in my heart that after all this neglect had achieved in 1t an expression of the good? l did not know.
 One day while I was in the room where 1t was hanging who should en- ter but the girl I had seen in the troll ley. Like the others, she asked that the famous picture be pointed out to her, spent some time before it, then glanced at others till her eye lighted on my production. At once she went to 1t and stood looking at it intenuy. When she had spent Q long while thus l approached, took position beside her and looked up at it myself
 Pardon me-" said to her "Can you tell me who painted this picture?'
 "No. know nothing about art or artists"
 Do you admire it?'
 q don't know. would love to be like it."
 Tt seems to me-" said, looking from the face on the canvas to hers of flesh and blood, "that it is like you"
 Do you think so?' she said. Tt seemed to me that there is something In the shape, the features and all that resembling me, but there is something else would wish were mine and is not"
 And that is?"
 'I can't tell you. It seems to L1e such look as should be in pictures of the mother of God"
 A flood of light, of comfort, poured in upon my brain. Possessing the gift I had transferred from her to the can- vas, she recognized 1t at once, but not | in hnrgnlf-onIy i'm fhn pinfurn