Warren sheaf., 1911-02-23
A Great Battle
ainter
How He Got His Start
By GERALD L. PERKINS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

ness it was gradually becoming i'm
perceptible. A man carrying a port
folio and paraphernalia necessary to
sketching left the field and, making
his way to a hut on hill overlooking
the scene of the engagement that had
occurred that day between the French
and the Prussians entered the hut
and asked if he might have some sup
per.
"Certainly, monsieur" said woman
who was there, "but we can give you
very little. The soldiers of both ar
mics have taken all we have except
few bits that we hid in the cellar.
Come, Fanchette, bestir yourself and
set the tablev'
The table was set and the supper put
upon it. The stranger sat down, and
Fanchette poured into his glass some
of the cheap wine Of the country. She
was between seventeen and eighteen
years old, simple French maid who
had no secrets from any one in the
world.
"You wear sad look, Fanchette,"
said the stranger els it from seeing
the slaughter today?'
'No, monsieur. did not look that
way
"Well, then, tell me what troubles
you.''
"1t is this, monsieur Antoine Bris-
son went out a;oong the fighting and
received wound He is lying now
in the next room
"He is your brother?'
''No, monsieur
swell, then, he is your lover?"
To this the only reply was eyes cast
upon the floor.
'syy.v hat was he doing out there
fighting?"
"No. monsieur; he has not yet be-
come conscript He will not be the
age for a month";
"Well, then, what business had he
on battlefeld?'
"Sketching!"
'Sketching? That's what l was do
ing there. When l have finished my
supper will go in and see him."
The stranger chatted on with the girl
and easily cleaned from her that she
! and Antoine could not marry because
she had no dot. After having supped
and smoked pipe the artist went into
the room where Antoine was lying.
The boy had received flesh wound,
but not of sufficient Importance to en-
danger his life.
$50 you were making sketches Of the
| fght?" said the artist. "That is my
business. l have been drawing for one
Of the Paris illustrated papers. Let
me see what you have DONE"
Fanchette took an improvised port
/! folio that she had made for her lover
Of two pieces of pasteboard laced to-
gether with string and brought it to
the artist. There were blood stains on
| it, but he did not mind that. He had
seen plenty of blood that day. He
opened the portfolio, took out what
there was in it-fve or six sketches
and began to look them over.
1sWhere did you learn to sketch?' he
asked the boy.
Il have never learned. monsieur" he
replied.
"Never studied in an art school;
| never had any Instruction."
"No, monsieur
The artist went on looking at the
sketches one after the other and when
he had seen them all looked at them
again. Then he turned his eyes to the
boy on the bed.
"Do you know, my boy, that my pa
per sent me here to make sketches of
/ this battle? have graduated at the
art school with honors, and yet you
who have never taken a lesson have
done what cannot do
"What do you mean, monsieur?'
asked the boy, his eyes opening very
wide, while Fanchette was all atten-
ton.
s'You are born battle painter You
have put into these crude sketches an
action that / have not been able to
| put in mine. And you have known
what scenes to select. Your soldiers
u1OFS, tIuSS HSui, lucy dIe lulptIeu
by the demon of war; they die-really
die, while mine-well, mine beside
yours are like toy soldiers"
ooh, monsieur exclaimed Fanchette,
clasping her hands, ''how good you
are to say that.'
I "Good to say that! I'm not talking
to please you. I'm telling you the
truth. And to prove what say. if
| Antoine when he has recovered will
come to Paris am sure can interest
art lovers in him who will see that he
receives Instruction.
"Oh, monsieur" replied Fanchette.
''how can he do that? He has no mon
ey. He would have to walk to Paris"
Not at all. | will take these sketches
with me. They will be used in one Of
the Illustrated papers and will be well
paid for. The money received for them
| will send to Antoine.'
The same night having hired y CON