The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-05
A Rembrandt Picture Sold

There is more weeping and gnashing
of teeth over the crossing of the water
by Rambrandts est. Bartholomew 1t
is understood here that Mr.. Henry Gold
man, the New York banker and collector
of rare works of art, has bought the pic
ture.A
st. Bartholomew" belongs to the finest
moment of the great Dutch artists
achievement, when, although he had
drifted into financial difficulties that
caused him to be declared bankrupt,
the spiritual beauty of his artistic ut
terance was in no way elouded by any
element of pessimism or bitterness. 1t is,
moreover fully signed Rembrandt" half
way down the left side of the canvas
near the right arm of the saint, and
bears a date which may be read as 1857,
although from the only photograph avail
able it is rot impossible that the final
figure may be a ''5. The man who on
this occasion sat as the model has quar-
ter length holding between the thumb
snd first finger of his right hand an Or
dii-ary kitchen knife. The loose-falling
apostolic robe hangs in one mass over
the right arm of the chair In which he is
seated, and his left hand is withdrawn
from view The loaded impasto with
ic knife and the right hand and cuff
comedies in every way with the technique
used by the artist at this moment of his
activity The subdued light falls from the
left side on to the cheek the broad fore
head, and the curly hair that is fecked
with bright color. His robe is open at the
neck, and the figure is ably disposed
against a plain background. The subject
appears to be one which Rembrandt did
not often, if ever again. paint. but it will
be recalled that picture entitled An
Old Man." seated at a writing table and
holding quill pen in his right hand and
a set square in his left, is low in the gal
1ery at Cassel. having been included as
far back as 1749 in the inventory of the
electoral, now the Royal, gallery, in that
city.
Socialism has now a representative in
the house of lords. Earl Russell. who has
bon gravitating towards colectivism for
some time past, has now definitely cast
In his lot with the socialists. and was
recently admitted to the membership OF
the Fabian society, whose chief priest is
Mr.. George Bernard Shaw. To a corre-
spondent who asked his lordship for
brief statement of the reasons that have
weighed with him in taking this step, he
replied that it is simply because he is in
general agreement with the socialist idea
the means of production in the hands of
society for the benefit of the masses.
Twenty Year-Old Cats s
question as to the length of a cats
life has prompted correspondents from
many parts of the country to give ac-
counts of cats which have reached the
great age--if it is great age-of Is years.
The best on record is reported by a
clergyman OF Norfolk parish where
one old couple possessed a cat % years
old. In all have been received records of
27 veteran cats. taking Is as the mini
MUM age TO qualify as veteran. OF these
three only are over a score of years.
There is some ground for supposng that
q red or sandy color is associated with
length OF life.
The secretary Of the Royal society for
the Prevention OF Cruelty to Animals
writes that cases of cats exceeding %
Years of age are rare, but that certain
number are on record.
1t is nice question how long the va
rous domestic animals ought to live.
Dogs and cats and horses all die rather
earlier than they should, IL we reckon
the time they take to become mature.
though on this reckoning man is the
most short lived of all animals. 1t is
practically proved that an open air life,
even if rough. extends the age of the
horse.
Madame Simons, the great French ac-
tress. speaks English quite huently. and
will appear in London next year in new
play by one of our most clever drama
fists.