Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1913-10-10
UNCONSCIOUS
GOOD
By F. A. Mitchell

one picture in which ! should pui
something sufficiently notable to give
me reputation. Being a painter Of
face and figure. naturally looked
about for a model ! found subjects
In determination. in grace and other
features, In figures. but ! needed a
! face 10 20 with each. and that ] did not
I find
! When | moved into new studio !
( looked ont upOn court The rooms
I facing me were occupied By Offices OF
/ various kinds and could look into
those on the same plane with me or
a little below The first morning
occupied ms studio I saw through a
window opposite a youth some six
teen or seventeen years old sitting at
a Typewriter was impressed with
bis appearance 10 once His face ex
pressed honesty. principle. goodness
His profile. which vas usually toward
me. was beautiful. and his full face
which he often turned to look al his
copy. was also beautiful and each
seemed to indicate that the young man
contained within him elements to Of
him for some noble work
Here was what had been long look
ing for ! did not care to copy ais
features exactly What | wanted 10
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 it. was disposed to repre-
sent my model rs doing some kindly
act, but | finally concluded TO paint
him as he was-a typist If, ! argued,
the goodness stands out in him on the
canvas as a typist, how much more
will be the triumph than if represent
him as a good Samaritan" We ex-
pect goodness in the faces of those
who profess to be good. but do not
necessa rily look for il in those engaged
in ordinary occupations
My picture passed the hanging com
mittee of certain gallery in which
was anxious to place it. and on the
opening day took a seat in the room
where il was hung 10 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 a glance TO all
there were. and as most of them pass
ed my picture they stopped for a few
moments and looked al 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
I visited the gallery nearly every
day and noticed slowly growing in
terest in my picture At last saw per
sons who on coming into the room
where it was hung looked about them
evidently for some particular pictuia
and finally found it in mine This tot
me that it had begun 10 be talkei
about. Before the exhibition closed
the painting as well as the artist hal
made some reputation
1t was about FIVE years after this
that a young man attracted attention
by conseerating his life 10 the poor
He belonged to no organization AMI
had no means OF his own. bnt he soon
found hackers among wealthy persons
who gave him money for his COOL
works II was not long before he was
known throughout the land as one ali
solutely pure, noble and doing good
work
Having heard Of him and conceived
a desire to see him. called al his Of
fce-a shabby room in rookery-with
the ostensihEe purpose Of making an
offering for his work What was ny
to see man rise 10 re
ceive me whom l recognized at once
as the model for my picture l made
no mention Of the coincidence. simply
giving him the money ! had brought
and trespassing for short while upon
his duties IN order TO converse with !
him.
7 made several visits TO nv model on
one nretense or another and attempted
to induce him TO go with me to see the I
picture / had made Of him when he
was a typist He was so busy that il
was n long while before I conid secure I
the time necessary for the purpose. +
At last l succeeded. and be went with .
me to where the painting hung. I had
not told him that was the artist He .
stood for a long while booking nj 1t
ntently so intently that I expected (
when he spoke he would say. THAT is .
myself shortly before came Of age"
At last broke in upon his feelings +
IFS meditations or whatever they were
" asking him what be thought OF the
picture
'I have not thought Of Il as work
II art" he said 4 have been think
ne how I would rejoice could have
within me one tenth the nobility OF
oul expressed hy that yonng man"
I was sstonished. He had sat before
typewriter himself: he had heen the
solel for the fsure in the paindas
which had only approached that no
iiity Of soul he mentioned. and yet h.
aw no likeness whatever 10 himself
Should I tell him the truth? No. I.
vas better that he should not know it. {