Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-08

presslon flows lmpartially from the fin
ger tips OF a cowboy or a dllettante EN-
peror, had chosen for a medium the
ROy Artist of the San Saba. The out
cpme, seven feet by twelve Of besmear-
ed canvas, stood, gilt framed, in the
lobby Of the capitol
rhe 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
s0lons bestowed. The boarding houses
were corralling the easy dollars Of the
gomesome lawmakers. The greatest
state In the west, an empire In area
oud resources, had arisen and repudl.
ated the old libel Of barbarlsm, law
breaking and bloOdshed. Order reign
Ell within her borders. Life and prop
erty We're as safe there, sir, as any
where among the corrupt cities Of the
effete east. Pillowshams, churches,
strawberry feasts ana habeas corpus
fourlshed. With lmpunty might the
tenderfoot ventllate his "stoyeplpe" or
his theories OF culture. The arts and
sciences received nurture and subsidy
Add, therefore, 1t behOoved the egls-
llture Of this great state to make ap-
preparation for the purchase Of Lonny
Bcisc0e's immortal painting.
Rarely has the San Saba country
contributed to the spread OF the fine
drts. Its sons have exceled in the
solder graces, In the throw Of the
larlat, the manipulation Of the esteem
al 40, the intrepidty Of the one card
draw and the nocturnal stimulation of
towns from undue lethargy. But hlth.
eciO It had not been famed as strong
hold Of aesthetics Ionny Brscoe's
brush had removed that disability
Here among the limestone rocks. the
euccuent cactus aud the drought
pnrched 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 aR
iiuius must have sprung up within him
Ia spite Of the desert soil Of San Saba.
The trlcksy spirit OF creation must
have melted him to attempted express
sion ana then have sat hilarious among
the white hot sands of the valley
watching ITS mischleyous work, for
Lonny's picture, Viewed as thing Of
ort, 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
typlcal western scene, Interest culml.
mating in central animal figure that
of stampeding steer, life size, wild
eyed, fiery breaking away In mad
rush from the herd that, close ridden
by typical COW puncher, occupied
position somewhat In the right back
ground Of the picture The landscape
presented fitting and faithful acces-
sories Chaparral, mesqult and pear
were distributed IN just proportions. A
Spanish dagger plant, with Its wnxen
blossoms In creamy aggregation as
large as a water bucket contributed
houl beauty and variety. The dis
lance was undulating prairie, bsectcd
10y 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 prlckly pear In the fore
ground A third of the canvas was
uitramarlne and lake white the typl
cnl western sky and the flying clouds
roinless aud fenthery
Between two plastered pillars In the
commodlous hallway near the door Of
the chamber Of representatives stood
the painting, Citizens and lawmakers
plsscd there by twos ANA groups and
sometimes crowds TO gaze upon II.
Many perhaps majority OF them
lad lived the prairie life aud recalled
casily the familiar scene. Old cattle.
men stood, reminiscent and cnndidly
pleased, chatting with brothers Of for
nicr camps and trails OF the days Il
brought back to mind Art critics
were few IN the town, aud there was
heurd none Of that jargon OF color.
perspective aud feeling such as the
elst loves 10 use as curb and rod
20 the pretensions Of the artists.
'lwns a great picture, most OF them
osrecd admlrlng the gilt frame -lurg
ec than any they had ever seen.
senator Kinney was the pictures
cbampion and sponsor Il was he who
$50 often stepped forward aud assert
ed with the voice Of bronco buster.
that il would be lasting blot. sir,
upon the maine OF this great state II
Il should deeline 10 recognize Ia
proper manner the genius that had 30
brilliantly transferred 20 imperlshable
canvas seene so typical Of the great
sources OF our states wealth and pros.
perity. land mud er-llye stock.
senator Kinney represented sec
tl1n " the state Ia The extreme west
400 miles from the san Saba country
Dur the iruc lover Of arr Is NOT llmlted
by moirs ana bounds Nor was Sen