Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-03-03
A Great Battle
Painter
How He Get His slart
Ey GERALD L. PERKINS
conyri,ybt Nv American Press Asso-
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation ISL.

The battle of Gravelotte had beer
fought; a smoke mist still hung oNe'
the field. though in the gather ing a;iri
ness it was. gradually becoming lis
perceptib,e. A man carrying a por'
folio and paraphernaliu necessary Z
sketching left the field and. maxim;
his way to hut on a hill overlookiii
the scene OF the engagement that Nae
occurred that day between the frehc:
and the Prussians. entered the hu'
and asked if he might have some sup
per.
Certainly, monsieur" said a 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, Tanchette, bestir yourself ane
set the table!'
The table was set and the supper pu'
upon 1t. The stranger sat down. ano
Tanchette poured into his glass some
Of the cheap wine of the country. She
was between seventeen and eighteen
years old, a simple French maid who
had no secrets from any one in the
world.
"You wear a sad look, Fanchette.
said the stranger. SIS 1t from seeing
the slaughter today?'
"No, monsieur. l did not look thai
way"
well. then. tell me what troubles
you"
at is this, monsieur. Antoine Bris
son went out pong the fighting and
received a wound. He is lying now
in the next ROOM"
"He is your brother"
"No, monsieur"
"Well, then, he is your lover?'
To this the only reply was eyes cast
upon the floor.
"What was he doing out there
fghting:"
mo. monsieur; he has not yet be-
come conscript He will not be the
age for a month"
"Well, then. what business had he
on battleield?'
"Sketching."
"Sketching? That's what 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 Il 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.
so you were making sketches Of the
fight?" said the artist That is my
business. | 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 1t 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-five 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.
"NeveI studied in an art school:
never had any Instruction.
mo. 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 tho
boy on the bed.
do you know. my boy. that my pa
per sent me here to make sketches of
this battlei ! have graduated at the
art school with nonors. 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.
"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
move; they fight: they are impelIed
by the demon OF war; they die-really
die. while mine-well. mine beside
yours are like toy soldiers"
"Oh. monsieur" exclaimed Fanchette.
clasping her hands. "how good you
are to say THAR
Good to say that. I'm not talking
to please you I'm telling you the
truth. And. to prove what. say. II
Antoine when he has recovered will
come to Paris am sure can intercs.
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 10 Paris
Not at all. | will take these sketche,
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 a con
veyance. the artist set out posthaste
Tor Paris. Antoine's sketches were
produced and created sensation. The
money paid for them was sent him
He went to Paris. where owing to the
interest created by his pictures he was