The daily Alaskan., 1913-01-03
HeWas Taught
 A Lesson
By F. TOWNSEND SMITH

When Helen Armsby and I were but ten years old we were great chums. At dancing school Helen was my favorite partner, and when we were pairing or for the cotillion the other boys steered clear of her, knowing that she would be engaged to dance 1t with me.
 Our Intimacy continued through youth, and when It came time for me to choose a profession Helen objected to my choice. At school, instead or studying my lessons, l devoted my time covering the blank leaves and margins of my textbooks with little pictures. The fancy grew upon me, and the profession selected was that of an artist. Helen was my opposite, a practical girl, not given to floating in the clouds, but walking right down on the face of the earth,
 I didn't then suspect the truth. Helen had been looking forward to a union with me and realized that if I spent my time daublng on canvas marriage with me was impractcable, She had little money of her own, but not enough to admit of her husband sitting on a three legged stool copying clouds and waterfalls. However, I started in' studied awhile in an art school, then set about practicing on the beautiful landscapes about the village in which Helen and I lived. One day while l was thus engaged she came along and stood behind me, looking at the pic ture on my easel
 "Very pretty" she remarked in that tone which damns with faint praise. l asked her what she especially admired in the painting.
 "Well, in the first place, that machine for gathering grain is excellent"
 "That isn't a grain gathering ma. chine; it's a windmill
 "There isn't any windmill about here" she said.
 'No; I am using the scene before me for a study, Putting In what occurs to me would make 1t more attractive"
 "You mean improving on it."
 Only a woman could give the cold tone to produce perfect irony.
 I didn't ask her to point out any more beauties, but she did SO of her own accord.
 "Did you put that balloon in for an improvementY' she asked.
 "You mean that tree on the hilltop2 No, I copied that. You can see 1t in the natural landscape"
 "Ohp
 There was an embarrassing silence. I dared not speak for fear should say something l would be sorry for. Helen didn't seem afraid to speak and made another criticism.
 "What kind of trees are those sur rounding the tree on the hilltop|
 I made no reply. She referred to clouds covering the sky.
 You're cross today" she added and proceeded on her way.
 Not long after this l took a studio fin the city. No one ever came there to buy pictures, and 1t was very lonesome. One day dealer came fin and said he did a great deal for beginners by buy ing their pictures and selling them to persons who wished them to help fur nish their houses. He looked over mine and selected the painting that Helen had so ridiculed, offering me the enor- nous sum of S1OO for it l was the more delighted because l could tell her that the picture had been sold, and the price paid for It showed plainly that her criticism was unjust and absurd
 We'll. I had a new interest in life. l was absorbed in the fate of the one picture had sold One day l saunter- ed into the shop of the man who had bought 1t and looked for it among his stock. l did not find it Then asked the dealer if he remembered buying a picture from me and what had become of 1t. He said he remembered me and the picture very well. He had sold 1t at a profit
 This ended my connection with that particular picture. I went on paint ing, but since I sold nothing l soon found myself In a state bordering on starvation. Then another dealer came to my studio and asked me if could duplicate the landscape had sold. did SO, and he paid me the same price as I had received for the other After that, about once in three months, sold a copy of that picture for exactly the same amount-a hundred dollars. Since I had been improving in my work could not understand why my clientele should all want that same picture.
 I grew suspicious. The next time a dealer came to my studio to buy one of these paintings he paid me for 't' leav- it with me and directing me to give 1t to a boy whom he would send for 1t. I asked the boy If he were to take It to the art store kept by the dealer or to the purchaser. He declined to an- swer the question.
 This made me more suspicious than ever, but I said nothing, watched the boy from a window when he left