Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1916-05-24

whose divine eX-
preston flows impartially from the fin
ger tips of a cowboy Or diIettante en-
peror, had chosen for a 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
efete east. Pillowshams, churches,
strawberry feasts and habeas corpus
fiourished. With tmpunity 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. It's sons have eXcelled in the
solder graces, in the throw of the
lariat, the manipulation of the esteem
ed 40, 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 a strong
hold Of aesthetics. LOnny BriScoe's
brush had removed that disa bility
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-
fatus 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 a thing Of
art, was something to have driven
away dull 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 a stampeding steer, life size, wild
eyed, fiery, breaking away in a mad
rush from the herd that, close ridden
by a typical COW puncher, occupied a
position somewhat in the right back
ground Of the picture. The landscape
presented fitting and faithful aces
SORES Chaparral, mesQuit and pear
were distributed in just proportions. A
Spanish dagger plant, with it's waxe1
blossoms in creamy aggregation as
large as a water bucket, contributed
floral beauty and variety. The dis
lance was undulating prairie, bisectet
by stretches Of the intermittent
streams peculiar to the region linet
with the rich green Of live oak an(
water elm. A richly notified rattle
snake lay coiled beneath a pale greer
clump Of prickly pear in the fore
ground. A third Of the canvas wa
ultramarine and lake white-the typi
cal western sky and the flying clouds
rainless and feathery.
Between two p1astered pillars in th
commodious hallway near the door Q
the chamber of representatives stoo
the painting. Citizens and lawmaker
passed there by twos and groups an
sometimes crowds to gaze upon /
Many-perhaps a ajority Of them
had lived the prairie life and recalle
easily the familiar scene. Old cattl
men stood, reminiscent and candid
pleased, chatting with brothers Of 70
mer camps and trails of the days
brought back to mind. Art critic
were few in the town, and there Wa
heard none of that jargon of colo
perspective and feeling such as tt
east loves to use as curb and a re
to the pretensions of the artist
Twas a great picture. most Of the
agreed, admiring the gilt frame
er than any they had ever seen.
Senator Kinney was the picture
champion and sponsor. It was he WI
SO often stepped forward and assel
ed, with the voice of a bronco buste
that it would be a lasting blot, s.
upon the name of this great state
it should decline to recognize in
proper manner the genius that had
brilliantly transferred to imperishat
canvas a scene so typical of the gre
sources of our states wealth and PFC
perity. lanl-and- er-live stock.
Senator Kinney represented a sc
ton of the state in the extreme west
400 miles from the San Saba country
but the true lover of art is not limit
by metes and bounds. Nor was Sc