Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-28
Useful
Hints
Why We Quarrelled
4 Clcpcr and Artistic Husband
Causes Trouble for His Wife.
tBy yirEinin Tcrhunc Van dc watcr.)


Copyright, 1915. by Star Company
My husband is All artist, He also
writes essays ON art. lie is clever in
his line and is considered by many TO
he an authority on matters pertaining
to his profession
He knows all this, and that is why we
quarrel
Not because he is clever, but because
he knows he is, and is, therefore. con-
coited.
His talk about himself and his work
sounds fearfully blatant 10 me- ac-
tually suffer as he boasts of his ac-
complishments. feel my face grow
hot and can hardly raise my eyes as
/ listen to some OF his assertions
Again and again ] have asked him
not TO talk SO much about himself.
Let other people discover your clev-
erness." / say. You do yourself an
injustice by blowing your own
trumpet"
You are the only one who does not
appreciate me-" he accuses
Eut do appreciate him and love
him Therefore, il hurts me to have
him show his worst side to the public
recall one dreadful evening when
VIC were invited to meet well-known
novelist, one whose name is familiar to
every intelligent reader. We were
among the few people asked TO dine
"a
list was modest and said little of his
own work.
The Unconscious Bore.
After while my husband turned to
him with some remark about an article
he himself had written for one of the
magazines. The novelist showed polite
interest and asked some perfunctory
question. This was enough, and my
husband RECALLED him for at least ten
minutes with his theories with regard
to sculpture and painting.
THE art magazines arc willing to pay
me almost anything in reason for my
papers OH these subjects he said.
] shuddered, for I remembered that
heard that this novelist got 10 cents
a word for his stories. 7 do not know
whether this is true or not But knew
that my husband never got more than :
cents a word for the little papers he
has written. Art is not popular enough
for treatises on it TO bring eNorbitant
prices.
tried to change the conversation
by making some remark about loan
exhibition I had recently attended. The
novelist followed my lead. .but my nus
band was not to be checked.
II was amazed" he remarked, at
osme of the miserable haubs in that
exhibition. They were actual traves-
ties"
Were his hearers thinking. ! won
no artist makes a masterpiece every
time he puts his brush on canvas
u thought the whole collection very
fine" vcnturcd, thinking to draw the
fire.
But it was useless. speaking OF
husband said, "of tho bust Of DR..
Blank. which did last year. Did you
see it,"
He looked at the guest of honor. The
author shook his head
NO" he said. politely regretful, Il
did not"
You have doubtless heard of it,"
my husband asserted, Then, as the
other made no reply. he Went on:
1t is really quite as good as, if
not rather better than. anything OF
Robins
Yes, he actually said that know
that people will not believe man
could be so conceited-yet this is the
truth. And | died a dozen deaths OF
shame Our hostess did not smile.
but saw her quick glance at her nus
band Then she began to talk very
fast about something else
This experience Was too strong for
my discretion, and OH our way home
that night asked my husband if
he did not think ii was in rather poor
this TO 4 whole tablcful of people.
They may not all agree with YOU"
added.
Nonsense" he exclaimed. "If not,
then they don's Enow enough about
genuine art to- he worth considcra :
man does no, speak we'll OF his own
work. nobody else will. The world
takes one Al his own valuation"
perhaps" ! admitted slowly. but
ii is mortfying 10 one vino loves YOU
What" he calculated.
Her DETERMINATION.
Yes" | said. determined TO speak
the truth. nov that had begun. 81
know how clever YOU are, but others
must think YOU fearfully conceited
What would YOU think if another man
talked Of his work in the terms tina,
yon use in talking of yours
IF he did the same kind OF wori
that do mean AS good work
would think that he was justified il
saying anything laudatory that ht
pleased about il. tell you-as l have
told you often efore-one must adver
tise ones self"
few weeks later. when | had sa
through another such ordeal as ] have
described, ! attempted | hope
the last time-to make him see thing!
as saw Them. tried dfIeren
prelude 10 nay nmid suggestion.
Dear" said gently. Your work l.
so well known now that there is II,
it By talking OF it as YOU sometime
DO"
He turned on me in anger.
You have told me that oftel
enough" he burst forth. For a Will
+ could not understand your attitude
Now have come 10 tho conclusion that
because you arc ignoran; o! every rul
of art yourself, YOU are jealous Of IN
and my thorough knowledge OF tn
subject That's it-you'rc jealous"
dared not confess the truth--tha
was moi icalous but ashamed o