The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-01-24
A Strange
Case
The Artist and the Picture.
Of Mystery
By Carroll H. PIERCE
By carroll H. PIERCE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation, 1911.

went to Florence, Italy.
l rented rooms of widow and hel
daughter, of the name of Micele. They
occupied the top floor of a building OF
the river Arno l used a front room
for studio and a rear room for a bed
room. The mother was a middle aged
woman, the daughter about twenty
five. Their ancestors had been well
off. but their estate had melted away
and Sonora Micele and her daughter
got on with difficulty. Blanca, the
daughter, was an artist but an indif
ferent one
Nevertheless there was something
remarkable about Blanca Micele. She
was neither pretty nor homely. The
eyes of the Italians are handsome, but
Senorina Micele's eyes were more than
handsome; they were, so to speak
compelling. That is, when she looked
out of them at me l felt a strange
force compelling me to do her bidding,
Not that there was apparent exercise
of will. She was gentIeness itself. The
power she exercised was rather per-
suasive than forceful.
Not long after l arrived in Florence
/ fell i'll and did not leave my bed for
weeks. Sonora Micele and her daugh-
ter both -nursed me-
A portion of the time I was in either
a stupor or delirium. don't know
which. At such times 1 was very
weak and on coming to myself usually
felt as If l had been doing exhaustive
work, though had been in my bed
all the while, where it would not have
been possible for me to do any work
even If had been mentally capable.
My illness occurred during the win
ter, and when the spring came on and
the weather began to warm up Sonora
Micele used to put me in an easy chair
and wheel me out on to one of those
little balconies common in Florence
houses. We were on the Arno en-
bankment Ghe Lung Arno, they call it
there). in sight OF the green hills that
surround the city. Indeed, from my
| balcony l could see some six or seven
miles distant the heights on which
Fiosole. the original Florentine settle
ment, was made. During three more
months l spent much of the day on
this balcony in fancy painting pictures
of the scenes spread out before me.
One of these was the undulating plain
beyond the city's edge and the heights
| Of Fiosole beyond the plain. There Is
big clock tower at Fiosole which it
seemed to me would make an attrac-
tive feature in my imaginary picture,
and spent hours working it in. An
other view dreamed of was the Arno,
directly beneath me, winding under
its arched bridges toward the south,
and other nearer and consequently
greener hills. There Is something In
the atmosphere of Italy to intensity
| the color of landscape, and on such
days delighted In the imaginative
painting l could not do in reality.
But l always noticed that such days
instead of giving me strength drew
upon what l had
Fortunately l recovered before the
hot weather set in and after convalesc-
ing in the invigorating climate of the
Swiss Alps went to Paris, where re-
manned some time.
Strolling one day down one of the
Partisan boulevards, stepped into a
picture shop. The dealer, fancying to
make a customer Of me, advanced and
questioned me as to what l was look
ing for. 1t occurred to me to ask for
one Of my own pictures, not that ex-
pected to find one. but that to ask for
the work of any special artist would
make 1t appear that was not looking
at his wares with no intention of buy
ing.
Have you anything of Adrian
GilesY' asked
"Giles, the Americana
eyes"
Certainly. have very remark
able piece of his work Come this
way"
He led me to one of his display
rooms and up to a picture that had
evidently been hung with considera-
BILE care. The subject was certainly
familiar to me, for it was the plain I
had overlooked at Florence with the
hills and FiosoIe in the distance. And
as l stood looking at it recognized
not only the Identical scene had
painted in my day dreams. but my In
dividual style Quickly bending to the
upon my establishment by seeing my
own name.
caught with both hands at the rail
that extended around the room to
guard the pictures Here was view
had no remembrance of presenting,
but which must have painted. 1t
was some time before ! recovered suf-
fcient equanimity to further examine
the painting, but when did so / saw
at once that for the first time in my
life had portrayed a scene exactly
as saw It, What / mean is that It
possessed all the reality and beauty
with which my imagination had en-
dowed it.
where did you get itY' I STAN
mered.
"From dealer whom never saw
before"
"How 90 you know 1t is a genuine
Giles?'
II know it because have seen sew
eral of the artists pictures. One other
tried to buy, but failed to make
deal, is now displayed in shop in the
Boulevard DIES Italiens. You may see
1t there. There Is the same unmistak-
able individuality about it as in this"
what is the subjectY'
1T is also a Fforentine scene. called
up the Arno.' 1t takes in the river,
with the hills beyond. 1t. too, is
great picture"
My knees began to knock together.
My jaws chartered. but not sufficiently
to prevent my asking, What do you
ask for this picture"
Twenty thousand francs"
Great heavensl l had never re-
ceived the half of that for a picture.
looked at the man so astonished that
he fastened to say:
MY profit win be but 500 francs. 1
paid 1880 francs for It,"
Taking the number of the shop
where he said the other picture was
to be seen, staggered out Of the store
and was soon before the picture had
also created In dreams. 1t, too, far
exceeded any work had ever done.
The dealer told me he had paid $1,000
francs for it.
Fortunately occupied rooms with
an American friend in the Quarter
Latin and rushed home to tell him
that had discovered something which
If not explained would drive me crazy
Ho listonnd To my r,forr h,nh I .nor,ld