The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-06-03
Shabby Genteel
A Sketch That Proved
Of Importance
By r. A. mitchell

L
! IL is that while the making of pictures
/ is Il refined work. only comparatively
! few OF us women have become eminent
/ in that field. But this has nothing 10
do with my story When II child | was
| given drawing lessons. and when l
| grew older went abroad 10 study. |
suppose should have remained
| abroad Most American artists do.
! They paint pictures where there is
market for them. came home 10
America. where | think there are rs
fine landscapes as there are in the
world. ana we have one scenic effect
that is the grandest In the world. the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado
WAS sketching one morning in
wood beside Il road. IL was spriugtime.
and the buds ON the trees We're opening
with that pale green one sees but for
few days in each year. was trying to
get il on my canvas.
Down the road came a man whose
clothes were shabby. but whose person.
even i'm 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 up
10 his cap slowly and doubtfully. a
pleasant. deferential smile lighting his
face. aud he said with the accent of
German:
"You have very beautiful subject
for your painting"
There was nothing whatever 10 be
afraid of in this deferential gentleman;
besides. during my sojourn abroad
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 Il was intended
He stood behind me and looked at my
sketch. first giving me. as Il well bred
person should. Il 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 genteel clothes. ii struck me
that | would like very much 10 make Il
drawing Of him.
Have you half an hour to spare?" l
asked
Half an hour? have half cen
fury. | AIN Il vagrant-what you call
in America Il 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 be
unraveed. For that reason | left my
native country and went 10 France,
where | served for awhile in that
corps of the French army called the
Foreign legion. DO you know what
that isI''
IL do not" | replied. surprised and
at the same time charmed 1T his frank
ness with I'M utter stranger.
The Foreign legion is composed of
men of al nations. but largely of gen
tlemen who have either disgraced
themselves or been disgraced by some
one else. You will find there Il Rus
sian colonel who has been cashiered
for cowardice. an English younger son
so dissolute that he has been ignored
by his family. an Austrian count who
has been ruined at the gambling table"
surely" | said. you have not com
mitted II crime
"Yes-that is to say. circumstances
made ii appear that | committed
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 rs your model. What
pose will YOU give me-
Please seat Yourself ON that log.
He sat down on the log. a light cane
that he had cut himself in his hands,
his position easy ana graceful. | saw
no necessity for posing him anew.
Just as you are" | added
"ln what direction shall | look ="
considered for n moment. then told
him to look straight at me. An honest
face is never so honest as when ii il
looking you in the eyes. Rogues may
| exhibit assurance. but they can never
| counterfeit honesty. az any rate not To
me. wished to get that frank express
sion of his. which would win any jury
and woman every time.
made II sketch. but was dissatisfied
with il and. tearing il up. made an
other This was better. hut was only
his face and figure without his ex-
preston. ! laid IL aside aud tried once
more. Meanwhile | engaged my model
in conversation with II view to Ora wing
out what | wished To get ON paper.
though ! am free 20 confess my object
was partly 10 detain him, for he had
suddenly walked into my life. and /.
felt that when he walked out of it an
| Impression would be left akin TO lone.
| Illness.
] kept him tin | had made four Mt
tempts at sketchli.g him. and the fourth
time, by accident, / suppose. caught
something of the expression | was try
| INK for. Then he arose. thanked me
for the honor had conferred upon
him and WAS about to depart when |
| said:
II must insist upon your receiving
| compensation for the sitting. I am
sure you are gentleman. hut there Is
nothing degrading Ia y gpntleman's
posing as n model even when he does