Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-02-15
VII. Art and the
BronchO
By O. HENRY

By o. HENRY
copyright by Doubleday. Page & Col
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mm. UT Of the wilder
ENlEM|A painter. Genius,
SNNN H lEI1 whose corona
nW lions alone are
my democratic, b a d
woven chaplet
e -" of chaparral for
the brow of Lon
ny Briscoe. Art,
whose divine e1-
preston flows impartially from the I'm
ger tips Of cowboy or dilettante en-
peror, had chosen for 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 houses
were corralling the easy dollars Of the
gamesome lawmakers. The greatest
state In the west, an 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 as safe there, sir, as any
where among the corrupt cities Of the
effete east. Pillowshams, churches,
strawberry feasts and habeas corpus
fourished. With impunity might the
tenderfoot ventilate his "stovepipe" or
his theories Of culture. The arts and
sciences received nurture and subsidy.
And, therefore, it behooved 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
ed 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 as 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 Is beyond postulation.
Beyond doubt some spore Of the af-
flatus 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 as thing Of
art, was something to have driven
away duh care from the bosoms Of the
critics.
The painting-one might almost say
panorama-was designed to portray a
typical western scene, interest culmi-
mating in a central animal figure, that
Of stampeding steer, life size, wild
eyed, fiery, breaking away in mad
rush from the herd that, close ridden
by q 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 as
large as a water bucket, contributed
floral beauty and variety. The dis
tance was undulat1ng 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 pale green
clump Of prickly pear In the fore
ground. A third Of the canvas was
ultramarine and lake white-the typi-
cal western sky and the flying clouds.
rainless and feathery.
Between two plastered pillars In the
commodious hallway 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 1t,
Many-perhaps a 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
mer 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 jargon Of color,
perspective and feeling such as the
east loves to use as curb and rod
to the pretensions Of the artists
Twas a great picture. most Of them
agreed, admiring the gilt frame-larg'
er than any they had ever seen.
Senator Kinney was the pictures
champion and sponsor. It was he who
80 often stepped forward and assert
ed, with the voice Of bronco buster
that It would be lasting. blot. sir
| upon the name Of this great state 4
It should decline to recognize In q
proper uanner the genius that had &c
brilliahciy transferred to imperishablt
canvas a scene so typical of the great
| sources Of our states wealtk and pros
perity, land-and-er-live stock.
Senator Kinney represented sec
| tion of the state IN the extreme west
400 miles from the San Saba country
but the true lover Of art Is not limited
By metes and bounds. Nor was Sen
ator Mullens, representing the sar
Saba country, lukewarm In his belle
that the state should purchase tn
| painting Of his constituent. he wa
advised that the San Saba country Va
unanimous. in its admiration Of th
great painting by one Of Its own den1
xens. Hundreds of connoisseurs haa
straddled their broncos and riddles
miles to view it before its removal =
1.-the capital. Senator Mulie1s desires
reelection. and he knew the impol
taHca e tna San sahA l0fe IA ~