Gunnison news-champion., 1916-08-18

the DrOw OF Lon
ny Briscoe. An.
whose divine ex-
preston flows impartially from the I'm
ger tips Of cowboy or q dflettante en-
peror. had chosen for q medium the
Boy Artist of the San Saba The out.
come. seven feet by twelve Of besmear-
ed canvas. stood. gilt framed. In the
lobby Of the capitol
The legislature was in session. The
capital city Of that great western state
was enjoying the season Of activity
and profit that the congregation Of the
solons bestowed. The boarding house.
were corralling the easy dollars Of the
gnmesome lawmakers. The greatest
state in the west. IN empire In area
and resources. had arisen and repudi.
ated the old libel of barbarism, law
breaking and bloodshed. Order reign
ed within her borders. Life and prop
erty were rs safe there. sir. a. any
where among the corrupt cities Of the
effete east Pillowshams. churches.
strawberry feasts and habeas corpus
nourished. With impunity might the
tenderfoot ventilate his ''stovepipe" o.
his theories of culture. The arts and
sciences received nurture and subsidy.
And. therefore. 1t bchooved the legis-
lature Of this great state to make ap-
preparation for the purchase Of Lonny
Briscoe's immortal painting.
Rarely has the San Saba country
contributed to the spread Of the fine
arts. Its sons have excelled In the
solder graces. in the throw Of the
lariat, the manipulation of the esteem
Cd AS. the intrepidity Of the one card
draw and the nocturnal stimulation OF
towns from undue lethargy. But hith-
erto It had not been famed a. q strong
hold Of aesthetics- Lonny Briscoe's
brush had removed that disability.
Here among the limestone rocks, the
succulent cactus and the drought
parched grass Of that arid valley had
been born the boy artist. Why he
came to WOO art II beyond postulation.
Beyond doubt some spore Of the az
datus must have sprung up within him
In spite OF the desert soil Of San Saba
The tricksy spirit of creation must
have melted him to attempted express
sion and then have sat hilarious among
the white hot sands Of the valley
watching its mischievous work. for
Lonny's picture. viewed rs q thing Of
art. was something. to have driven
away dull care from the bosoms Of the
critics.
The painting-one might almost say
panorama-was designed to portray q
typical western scene. interest cuimi-
mating in a central animal figure. that
Of q stampeding steer. life size. wild
eyed. nery. breaking away in a mad
rush from the herd that. close ridden
by typical COW puncher. occupied a
position somewhat In the right back
ground Of the picture. The landscape
presented fitting and faithful acces-
sories. Chaparral. mesQuit and pear
were distributed in Just proportions. A
Spanish dagger plant, with its waxen
blossoms in . creamy aggregation a.
large as water bucket. contributed
doral beauty and variety. The dis
tance was unduIating prairie. bisected
BY stretches Of the intermittent
streams peculiar to the region lined
with the rich green Of live oak and
water elm. A richly mottled rattle
snake lay coiled beneath q pale green
elump Of prickly pear in the fore
ground. A third Of the canvas was
ultramarine and lake white-ths typi.
eal western sky and the flying clouds
sainless and feathery.
Between two plastered pillars In thu
comAodious halfway near the door of
the chamber Of representatives stood
the painting. Citizens and lawmakers
passed there BY twos and groups and
sometimes crowds to gaze upon It.
Nany-perhaps 4 majority Of them
had lived the prairie life and recalled
easily the familiar scene. Old cattle
men stood. reminiscent and candidly
pleased. chatting with brothers Of for
ner camps and trails Of the days II
brought back to mind. Art critics
were few in the town. and there was
heard none Of that jarxon Of color.
Perspective and feeling such % the
east loves to use ~ . curb and Z rod
to the prefensions Of the artfsts.
Twas . great picture. most Of them
asreed, admiring the gilt frame-larx
q than any they had ever seen.
Senator Kinney was the plcturs's
champion and sponsor. I. vas hs who
- often stepped forward and assest
"a, with the voice Of . bronco buster.
dat e would be tasting blot, sar.
upon the name Of this great sfafn r.
+ should decline to reeogniss in =
peoper Tsnner the, seniue that bad -
bgilliaAsiy tranaferrod 10 impefishnble
canvas scene - typical of tbe 9reaf
sources Of Our states wealth and peus
Des1ty. land-and stock
Senator Kinney reptesentea Z -
tlon Of the state IN the extrsme @egt-
80 niles from tie Gan 1aha counfly-
Ut the trus I0vse 4 att - ~ linats1
- nstss and eeon1a NJ wag -
,ts.ifsl