Gunnison news-champion., 1916-08-18

painting Of his constituent He was
advised that the San Saba country was
unanimous In It's admiration OF the
great painting by one OF Its own deni-
sens. Hundreds OF connoisseurs had
stfaddsed their broncos and ridden
miles to view Il before its removal 10
tke capiGal. Senator Mullens desired
reelection. and he knew the impor-
tAnce OF the San Saba vote He also
knew that with the help Of Senator
Kinney. who was . power in the legis-
lature. the thing could be put through
Now. Senator Kinney bad an irrigation
bill that he wanted passed for the ben
ent Of his own section. and be knew
Senator Mullens could render him val
liable aid and information. the San Saba
country already enjoying the benefits
OF similar legislation. With these in
terests happily dovetailed. wonder at
the sudden interest In art at the state
capital must. necessarily. be small.
Few artists have uncovered their first
pictures to the world under happier
auspices than did I.onny Briscoe.
Senator Kinney and Mullens came to
"
CATION and art while partaking OF long
drinks In the cafe os the Empire hotel.
"Hm- said Senator Kinney. II don't
know. I'm no art critic. but 1t seems
to me the thing won't work. 1t looks
Ike the worst kind OF chrome TO me.
don't want to cast any reflections
upon the artistic talent Of you- constit-
uent. Senator. but l. myself. wouldn't
give six bits for the picture-without
the frame. How are you going to cram
thing like that down the throat of
legislature that kicks about little item
In the expense bill OF $6Sl for rubber
erasers for only one term7 It's vast
Ing time. I'd like to help you, Null
lens. but they'd laugh us out Of the
senate chamber II we were to try It"
But you don't get the point" said
Senator Mullens, In his deliberate
tones. tapping Kinney's glass with his
long forednger. 81 have my own doubts
as to what the picture is intended to
represent q bullnght or q japanese
allegory. but want this legislature to
make an appropriation to purchase.
or course, the subject Of the picture
should have been In the state historical
line. but it's too late to have the paint
scraped on and changed. The state
won't miss the money and the picture
can be slowed away in q lumber room
where It won't annoy any one. Now.
here's the point to work on. leaving
art to look after itself-the chan that
painted the picture u the grandson Of
Lucien Briscoe.''
"say It again." said Kinney. leaning
his head th0ughtfully. "Of the old.
original Lucien Briscoer'
"Of him. The man whO.' you know.
The man who carved the stnte gu, Of
the wilderness. The man who settled
the Indiana. The man who cleaned
out the horse thieves. The man who
refused the crown. The suites favor
ite son. Do you see the point uowf'
WRAP up the picture" nnid Kinney.
ITS ~ good a. sold. Why didn't YOU
say that at frst instead OF philander-
Ing along about art. ril resign my
seat In the senate and go hack to chain
carrying for the county surveyor the
day can't make this state buy a pic.
ture calcimined by . grandson Of La.
Glen BriscOe. Did you ever hear OF a
special appropriation for the purchase
OF home for the daughter Of One
Eyed SmOthers? Well. that went
through like a motion to adjourn. ana
old One Eyed never killed half a. many
Indians as Briscoe did. About what
figure had you and the caIcimiper
agreed upon to sandbag the treasury
forT'
II thought" said Muliens. ..th.t
maybe dve hundred"-
Five hundredr' interrupted Kinney
- be hammered on his glass for Z
lead pencil and looked around for .
waiter. "only I'VE hundred for . red
steer on the hoof delivered By q grand.
son Of Lucien Briscoe! Where's your
state pride. mani Two thousand Il
what It'll be. You'll introduce the Bill
and I'll get up on the door Of the sen.
ate and wave the scalp Of every Indian
old Lucien ever murdered. Lets see:
there was something else proud ana
foolish be did. wasn't theref Oh, yes;
he declined all emoluments and bene-
dts he was entitled to. Refused his
head right and veteran donation Ger.
tincates. Could have been governor.
but wouldn't Declined q pension.
Now's the states chance to nay M.
tn have to take the picture. but then
u deserves some punishment for keep.
ing the Briscoe family waiting 70 long.
Wen bring this thing up about the
middle Of the month after the tax bill
y settled. Now. MulIens, you send
over ~ soon - you can and get me
the figures ON the cost Of those irriga.
tion bitches and the statistics about
the increased production per acre. I'm
going to need you when that bin Of
mine comes up. reckon we'll b. able
to pull along pretty well together this
session and maybe others to come. Oh.
senatoff"
Thus did fortune elsct to smile upon
the boy artist Of the San Saba. Fate
had ALREADY d0no hoP aharn ~hasn ah~