Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-03-02
more and somebody would a Degn

snake bit.
With these artful lodges, contributed
Dy Lonny's faithful coterie. with the
sonorous Kinney perpetually sounding
the pictures merits and with the sol
vent prestige Of the pioneer Briscoe
covering it like a precious varnish, it
seemed that the San Saba country
could not fail to add a reputation as an
art center TO its we'll known superiori-
ty In steer roping contests and achieve
ments with the precarious busted
flush. Thus was created for the pic
ture an atmosphere, due rather to ex-
ternals than to the artists brush, but
through it the people seemed to gaze
with more admiration. There was a
magic in the name of Briscoe that
counted high against faulty technique
and crude coloring. The old Indian
tighter and wolf slayer would have
smiled grimly in his happy hunting
grounds had he known flat his diet
tante ghost was thus figuring as an
art patron two generations after his
uninspired existence.
Came the day when the senate was
expected to pass the bill Of Senator
Mullens appropriating $4,000 for the
purchase of the picture. The gallery
OF the senate chamber was early pre-
empted by Lonny and the San Saba
lobby In the front row of chairs they
sat, wild haired, self conscious, jung
ling. creaking and rafting, subdued by
the majesty of the council hall
The bill was introduced, went to the
second reading, and then Senator Null
lens spoke for it dryly, tediously and
at length Senator Kinney then arose,
and the well1in seized the bellrope pre-
paratory to ringing.
Senator Kinney spoke for an hour.
History was his theme-history miti-
gated by patriotism and sentiment He
referred casually to the picture in the
outer hall-it was unnecessary, he said,
to diiate upon it's merits-the senators
had seen for themselves. The painter
of the picture was the grandson Of
Lucien Briscoe. Then came the word
pictures Of Briscoe's life set forth in
thrilling colors. His rude and ven
turesOme life. his simple minded love
for the commonwealth he helped to up
build, his contempt for rewards and
praise, his extreme and sturdy indie
pendence and the great services he had
rendered the state. The subject of the
Grafton was Lucien BriscOe. The
painting stood in the background serv-
ing simply as a means, now happily
brought forward, through which the
state might bestOw a tardy recOmpense
upon the descendant of it's favorite
son.
The bill passed without an opposing
vote. Tomorrow it would be taken up
by the house. Already was it fixed to
glide through that body on rubber
tires. Blandford, Grayson and Plum
mer, all wheelhorses and orators and
provided with plentiful memoranda
concerning the deeds of Pioneer BriS
coe, had agreed to furnish the motive
power.
The San Saba lobby and it's protege
stumbled awkwardly down the stairs
and out into the capitol yard. Then
they herded closely and gave one yell
of triumph But one Of them-Buck
Kneed Summers it was-hit the key
with the thoughtful remark:
'She cut the mustard,' he said, "all
right. | reckon they're goin' to buy
Ions steer. I amt right much on the
parlyment'ry but I gather that's what
the signs added up. But she seems to
me, Lonny, the argument ran principal
to grandfather instead of paint It's
reasonable calculatin that you want to
be glad you got the Briscoe brand on
you, my SON.
j That remark clinched in Lonny's
mind an unpleasant, vague suspicion to
the same effect. His reticence in
creased, and he gathered grass from
the ground, chewing it pensively. The
picture as a picture had been humili
atingly absent from the senator's ar
guments. The painter had been held
up as a grandson, pure and simple.
The hotel Lonny stopped at was near
the capitol. 1t was near to the 1 O'Clock
dinner hour when the appropriation
hotel clerk told Lonny that famous
artist from New York had arrived in
town that day and was in the hotel.
He was on his way westward to New
Mexico to study the effect of sunlight
upon the ancient wall of the Zunis.
Modern stone reflects light. Those an
Icient building materials absorb it. The
artist wanted this effect in a picture
he was painting and was travelling
1000 miles to get it.
Lonny sought this man out after din
ner and told his story. The artist was
an unhealthy man. kept alive by gen
JUS and Indifference to life. He went
with Lonny to the capitol and stood
there before the picture. The artist
pulled his beard and looked unhappy.
SHOULD like to have your senti-
ments," said Lonny, "just as they run
out Of the pen"
! "Its the way they'll Gomez said the