Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1913-05-30
UNCONSCIOUS
GOOD
By F. A. Mitchell

am an artist by profession. anC
when | was struggling for recognition
1t occurred to me that ] must pain
one picture in which should pu,
something sufficiently notable to give
me a reputation. Being painter OF
face and figure. naturally looked
about for a model found subject.
in determination. In grace and other
features, In figures. but needed a
face to 60 with each. and that did moi
find.
When I moved into new studio
looked out upon a court The poems
facing me were occupied by offices OF
various kinds. and could look into
those on the same plane with me OF
little below. The first morning !
occupied my studio saw through q
window opposite a youth some. six
teen or seventeen years old sitting a.
typewriter was impressed with
his appearance at once. His face ex
pressed honesty. principle. goodness
His profile. which was usually toward
me. was beautiful. and his full face.
which he often turned TO look at his
copy, was also beautiful. and each
seemed to indicate that the young man
contained within him elements to ft
him for some noble work.
Here was what | had been long look.
ing for. did not care to copy his
features exactly. What I wanted to
put on the canvas was that nobleness.
that goodness. expressed in his face.
This succeeded In doing beyond my
most ardent expectations.
Before beginning to paint the pic
ture. thinking of the subject | should
choose for 1t, was disposed to repre-
sent my model as doing some kindly
act, but | finally concluded to paint
him as he was-a typist II. argued,
the goodness stands out in him on the
canvas as a typist. how much more
will be the triumph than II represent
him as good Samaritan" We ex-
pect goodness in the faces of those
who profess to be good. but do not
necessarily lock for It in those engaged
In ordinary occupations.
My picture passed the hanging COM
mittee of certain gallery in which I
was anxious to place 1t. and on the
opening day took seat In the room
where ii was hung to watch its effect
on the persons who passed It There
were pictures in the gallery by well
known artists. and most visitors were
looking for such Nevertheless the
gaZers gave at least glance to all
there were, and as most of them pass
ed my picture they stopped for few
moments and looked at It There seem
ed to be something near home in the
subject, to say nothing Of the individ
uality Of the person depicted. But this
was my own surmise.
l visited the gallery nearly every
day and noticed a slowly growing in
terest in my picture. At last saw per
sons who on coming into the room
where 1t was hung looked about them
evidently for some particular picture
me that 1t had begun to be talked
about Before the exhibition closed
the painting rs well as the artist had
made some reputation
1t was about FIVE years after this
that young man attracted attention
by consecrating his life to the poor
He belonged to no organization and
had no means Of his own. but he soon
found hackers among wealthy persons
who gave him money for his good
works. 1t was not long before he was
known throughout the land as one alb
solutely pure. noble and doing a good
work
Having heard Of him and conceived
a desire to see him. called at his Of
fice-a shabby room in a rookery-with
the ostensible purpose Of making an
offering for his work. What was my
establishment to see a man rise to re-
ceive me whom I recognized at once
as the model for my picture j made