The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-02-07
A Great Battle
Painter
How He Got His Start
BY GERALD L. PERKINS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
ciafion 1911
by GERALD L. PERKINS

The battle of Gravelotte had been
Fought; a smoke mist still hung over
The Geld, though in the gathering dark
mess II 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 Il 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 lie might have some sup
per.
"Certnlnly. 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 tabler'
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
years old. simple French maid who
hnd no secrets from any one In the
world.
"You wear sad look, Fanchette."
said the stranger. "Is 1t from seeing
che slaughter today?"
'No. monsieur. did not look that
way"
fAh N2tI q
you"
at IL this, monsieur. Antoine Bris-
son went out n i ong the fighting and
received wound He Is lying now
In the next room"
ale Is your brother"
"No monsieur"
"Well. then, he is your loverw
To this the only reply was eyes cast
upon the floor
"Whnt was no doing out there
tlghtingY"
"No. monsieur; he has not yet be-
come n conscrpt He will not be the
age for month"
'Wel'. then, what business had he
on battleheldT
''Sketchingy'
"Sketching? That's what was do
ang there. When | have finished my
supper will 20 in and see him"
The stranger chatted on with the girl
und easily Cleaned from her that she
and Antoine could not marry because
she had no dot. After having supped
and smoked n pipe the artist went into
the room where Antoine was lying.
The boy had received flesh wound,
out not Of sufficient Importance to en-.
danger his life.
$50 you were making sketches OF the
nghtY'' said the artist. "That is my
business. have been drawing for one
or the Paris Illustrated papers. Let
suc 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 q string and brought II to
the artist. There were blood stains on
ft, but he did not mind that, He had
''geen plenty of blood that day. He
opened the portfolio, took out what
-'there was In it--1ve or six Sketches
and began to look them over
"Where did you learn to sketch?" he
asked the boy.
IL have never learned, monsieur" he
replied.
"Never studied in an nrt school;
never had any Instruction."
"No. monsieur"
The artist went on looking ut the
sketches one after the other and when
be had seen them all looked at them
again Then he turned his eyes to the
boy on the bod.
"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 lesson have
done what | cannot do"
"What do you mean, monsieur?"
asked the boy. his eyes opening very
wide, while Fanchette was all atten-
Ston.
"You nre born battle painter. You
have put into these crude sketches uu
action that | have not been able to
put in mine. And you have known
what scenes TO select. Your soldiers
move: they fight; they are impelled
by the demon of war; they dle--realy
die. while mine-well. mine beside
yours are like toy soldiers"
"Oh. monsieur" exclaimed Fam "ette,
-ciasping her hands, how good you
are 20 say thatw
"Good to say that! I'm not talking
10 please you. I'm telling you the
ruth. And. to prove what I say. II
Artolne when he has recovered will
come to Paris l am sure can Interest
art lovers in him who will see that he
eoceives instruction"
-oh. monsieur" replied Fanchetts.
how can he do that1 He has no mon.
~. He would have to walk to Paris"
mot nt all. ! will take these sketches
with me. They will be used In one OF
ttlS illustrated papers and will be well
paid for. The money received for them
will send TO Antoine"
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