Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-05-24
Shabby Genteel
A Sketch That Proved
OF Importance
By r. a. mitchell

8I 80 - |AAA1
Fond Of art from my childhood. de
termined a. be an artist wonder why
Il Is that while the making Of pictures
Is refined work. ouly comparatively
few of us women have become eminent
In that field But this has nothing 10
do with my story When a child / was
given drawing lessons. and when
grew older went abroad TO STUDY
suppose should have remained
abroad Most American artists do
They paint pictures where there Is %
market for them. | came home t3
America. where ! think there are as
fine landscapes as there are In the
world. and we have one scenic effect
that is the grandest In the world. the
Grand Canyon OF the Colorado
was sketchlng one morning In q
wood beside road II was springtlme
and the buds on the trees were opening
with that pale green one sees but for
few days IN each year. ! was trying 10
get 1t on my canvas.
Down the road came man whose
clothes We're shabby. but whose person
even in shabby attire. bore evidence OF
the gentleman He had the light hair
and blue eyes that indicate northern
races. and his features were Of the
Saxon type Seeing me sitting there
sketching. he paused. his hand went W
to his cap slowly and doubtfully.
pleasant. deferential smile lighting his
face. and he said with the accent OF
German:
"You have very beautiful subject
for your painting"
There WAS nothing whatever TO he
afraid of In this defcrential gentleman.
besides during my sojourn abroad I
had made many such acquaintance
all travellers do except the English. and
even they sometimes break through
their observation-disclosures received
the mans salute as II was intended
He stood behind me and looked nj my
sketch. first giving me. as a well bred
person should. a compliment. then max
ing certain criticisms and suggestions
that at once struck me as being of
value
As looked Mt his 1.-THE figure. his
genial face bearing every evidence Of
refinement and contrasting with his
shabby gentcel clothes. II struck me
that would like very much to make n
drawing of him.
"TIaye you half an hour 10 spare:" |
asked.
Half IN hour? have half n cen
fury am vagrant-what yon cali
In America n tramp. At any rate. |
am that at present. am one of those
persons one reads about in stories who
become involved in some unfortunate
episode the truth of which cannot he
unrayeled. For that reason | left my
native country and went to France
where | served for awhile In that
corps of the French army called the
Foreign legion Do you know what
that ls?"
Il do not" | replied. surprised and
at the same time charmed at his frank
ness with an inter stranger
The Foreign legion is composed Of
men of all nations. but largely Of gen
tlemen who have either dsgraced
themselves or been disgraced by some
one else. You viii find there Rus
sian colonel who has been cashiered
for cowardice. an English younger son
so dlssolutc that he has been ignored
by his family. an Austrian count who
has been ruined at the gambling table. :"
surely" | said. Won have not com
mitted crime;"
"Yes-that Is 10 say. circumstances
made II appear that committed 4
crime But let us not talk OF that
A shadow passed over his honest face
Il am here honored by your request
that ! shall serve as your model What
pose will you give me?"
please seat yourself on that log
He sat down on the log. light cane
that he had cut himself In his hands.
his position easy and graceful / saw
AO AtAtEEiAs ttt i'VHAh@
Just rs you are" added.
In what direction shall | lool;"
considered for q moment. then told
him to look straight at me. An honest
face Is never so honest as when II Is
looking you in the eyes. Rogues may
exhibit assurance. but they can never
counterfeit honesty. al any rate not L"
me. wished 10 get that frank expre-
sion of hts which would win any jur,
and n woman every time.
made Il sketch. but was dissatisfied
with il and. tearing II up. made an
other This was better. but was only
his face and figure without his ex
preston. | laid II aside and tried once
more Meanwhile | engaged my modr'
In conversation with view 10 dra
out what | wished TO get on paper
though | am free 10 confess my ohie'l
was partly 10 detain him. for he nad
"a a.