The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-06-26
UNCONSCIOUS
GOOD
By F. A. Mitchell

something sufficiently notable To give
me a reputation. Being painter OF
face and figure. | naturally looked
about for a model | found subjects
in determination. in grace and other
features. in figures. but | needed
face 10 90 with each. and that | did not
find
When | moved into new studio /
looked ont upon a court. The rooms
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 my studio | saw through a
window opposite a youth some six
teen or seventeen years old sitting at
typewriter | was impressed with
his appearance ut 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 fit
him for some noble work.
Here was what | had been long look
ing for. ! did not care TO copy his
features exactly. What | 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 it. was disposed TO repre-
sent my model as 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 n typiSt, how much more
will be the triumph than if l represent
him as good Samaritan We eX-
pect goodness in the faces of those
who profess to be good. but do not
necessarily look for it in those engaged
in ordinary occupations.
MY picture passed the hanging COM
mittee Of a certain gallery in which l
| was anxious to place ii. and on the
opening day | took n seat in the room
where ii was hung to watch its effect
on the persons who passed II. There
were pictures in the gallery by well
known artists, and most visitors were
looking for such. Nevertheless the
gazers gave at least n glance to all
there were. and as most of them pass
ed my picture they stopped for a 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.
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 picture
and finally found it in mine. This told
me that II had begun to be talked
about. Before the exhibition closed
the painting as well as the artist had
made some reputation.
1t was about five years after this
that a 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 sooH
found hackers among wealthy persons
who gave him money for his good
works. II was not long before he was
known throughout the land as one alb
solutely pure. noble and doing a goOt
work
Having heard of him and conceived
a desire to see him. l called at his Of
fce-a shabby room in rookery-witl
the ostensible purpose Of making Al
Offering for his work. What was m.
establishment to see a man rise to re
ceive me whom l recognized at ono
as the model for my picture. ] mad
no mention of the coincidence, simpl,
giving him the money had brough
and trespassing for q short while upol
his duties I'm order to converse Wit
him.
I made several visits to my model o.
one pretense or another and attempte
to induce him to 60 with me to see tn
picture / had made Of him when h
was a typist. He was so busy that
was long while before could secur
the time necessary for the purpose
At last succeeded and he went wit
me to where the painting hung. I ha
not told him that I was the artist. n
stood for a long while looking at
intently, so intently that expecte
when he spoke he would say, THAT
myself shortly before I came Of age.
At last / broke in upon his feeling
his meditations or whatever they wei
by asking him what he thought Of til
picture.
81 have not thought of it as a wor
Of art" he said. 81 have been thinl
ing how I would rejoice could 1 ha,
within me one-tenth the nobility ,
soul expressed by that young man."
Twas astonished. He had sat befol
a typewriter himself; he had been Il
model for the figure in the paintir
which had only approached that n
bility Of soul he mentioned, and yet
saw no likeness whatever to himself.
Should tell him the truth? No.
was better that he should not know
> better that not a grain Of alloy shou
enter into his unconscious goodnes
I led him away from the picture wit
out enlightening him. He went ba,