Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-04-08
more and gOmebody would a, been


more and somebody would "a been
snake bit"
With these artful lodges, contributed
by Lonnys faithful coterie, with the
sonOrous Kinney perpetually sounding
the pictures merits and with the sol
vent prestige Of the pioneer Briscoe
| covering 1t like a precious yarnish, it
! seemed that the San Saba country
could not t'fail to add n reputation as an
art center to It's well known superlori-
ty in steer roping contests and achieve
ments with the precarious busted
I 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
fighter and wolf slayer would have
smiled grlmly In his happy hunting
grounds had he known that his dllet-
tante ghost was thus figuring as an
art patron two generations after his
unlnsplred existence.
Came the day when the senate was
expected to pass the bill of Senator
Mullens apprOpriatlng $1,000 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, jlng
ling, creaklng and rattling, subdued by
the majesty of the council hall
The bill was introduced, went to the
second reading and then Senator Mul-
lens spoke for 1t dryly, tediOusly and
at length. Senator Kinney then arose,
and the welkin seized the belrope pre-
paratOry to ringing.
Senator Kinney. spoke for an hour.
History was his theme history mlti-
gated by patriotism and sentiment. He
referred casually to the picture in the
outer hall--lt was unnecessary, he said,
to dllate upon It's merits-the senators
had seen for themselves. The painter
Of the picture was the grandson of
Luclen BrlscOe 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 inde-
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 tardy recOmpense
upon the descendant of its fayOrite
son
The bill passed without an opposing
vote. Tomorrow 1t would be taken up
by the house. Already was 1t 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 its 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-hlt the key
with the thoughtful remark:
"She cut the mustard" he said, "all
right. l reckon they're goin' TO buy
Ions steer. l amt right much on the
parlyment'ry, but | 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 caculatin' that you want to
be glad you got the Briscoe brand on
you, my SON"
That remark clinched in LOnny's
mind an unpleasant vague suspicion to
the same effect His retlcence in
creased, and he gathered grass from
the ground, chewing 1t pepslvely The
picture as a picture had been humili-
atingly absent from the senator's ar
guments. The painter had been held
up MS grandson, pure and simple.
The hotel tonny stopped at was near
the capitol 1t was near to the o'clock
dinner hour when the appropriation
had been passed by the senate, The
hotel clerk told Tonny that a 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 wai Of the Zunis
Modern stone reflects light Those an
Client building materials absorb it. The
artist wanted this effect in 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
Ius and indifference to life He went
with Lonny to the capitol ana stood
there before the picture The artist
pulled his beaN and looked unhappy
"Should like to have your senti
ments," said Ionny, Just as they run
out OF the pen"
ITS the way they'll come" said the
painter man. 81 took three different
kinds OF medicines before dinner-by
the tablespoonful The taste still lin