The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-03
What Came
OF a Sketch
By EDWARD I. STEWART

hyeTSOu was III AmGIiCdu UOy WIZ
went to Florence, Italy, to study art
The stories Of some Of these American
youths efforts to get an art educa-
ton half a century ago are almost In
credible. Ryerson paid his expenses
to Italy and lived there year on
$3.50.
One day when he was eating his
usual dinner of macaroni-with no en-
trees-in q cheap restaurant, costing
him a couple Of cents In our money,
man took q seat at q table opposite
him, whose appearance seemed to offer
a striking subject for a picture. He
was shabbily dressed, conical hat.
mustache turned up. pointed beard
was suggestive of Mephistopheles. Ry-
erson asked him IL he would object to
his making a sketch Of him The man
consented, and the artist, opening a
portfolio he had with him, took out
pencil and paper and went to work.
The model was an Englishman, and
they conversed during the sitting.
Ryerson possessed a gift for catch
ing likenesses, important in that day
when there was no cheap way Of get
ting them, for Daguerre had only just
invented his process. A sketch was
made that was an excellent reproduc-
ton Of the mans features, including
scar over the right eye. Ryerson re-
GREETED that he could not pay for the
sitting, but the man declared that, be-
ing poor himself, he could appreciate
the others feelings. However, he ex-
pended Ira in litre Of wine, which
he invited Ryerson to share with him.
He seemed, however. to be a nissan
thropic person, and Ryerson judged
that he had met with some misfor-
tune or had been treated unjustly.
At any rate, his disposition had evi.
IDENTIFY been soured. He made an i'm
preston on the artist, and after they
parted Ryerson could not get him out
Of his mind, and the sketch kept the
impression alive.
Ryerson engaged passage to America
by way of Genoa, and while waiting
for the ship to sail put up at hotel
where the guests were mostly English
and Americans. In the reading room
he picked up an English paper and
while scanning it his eye caught an
advertisement for information Of Cecil
Manchester, followed by description
which tailed with Ryerson's msdel. A
reward of 600 was offered for infor-
nation that would lead to the party's
discovery.
Ryerson was so impressed with the
belief that the two were identical that
he was tempted to cancel his passage
at Genoa and go home by way of
London. His story of his meeting
with the man he had sketched might
furnish a clew to his discovery. But
to go by London would be more ex-
pensive. He tossed a coin to decide
whether or not he should take his
chances of profit by going to London.
and London won.
Counting up his available funds, he
found that he could get to London, but
II he received no acquisition there he
would be short of his passage money.
Again he tipped the coin to determine
IL he should take this added chance.
Again the risk won.
A few days later Ryerson stepped
into the Office of the London paper that
had contained the ad and told his
story.
"Have you the sketch?" he was
asked.
He at once produced 1t and was
offered any price he would ask for its
use. 1t was surely a likeness of the
party sought for and the only likeness
extant. Its publication would be of
great help in finding the original. Ryer-
son told them that they could have the
picture for any price they chose to
pay, and they drew check for hun.
dred pounds.
So far, so good. II the sketch led to
finding the original Ryerson would re.
ceive the goo reward in addition. in
all $500.
The likeness was published all over
the continent. especially in Italy, and
finally met the eye of its original who
had found position as croupier at the
casino in Lucerne. He at once open.
ed correspondence with the London
paper.
The story Of Cecil Manchester, sec
ond son of British nobleman, is a vo
luminous one in itself, far too long tc
be given in this episode in the life OF
an American artist. He had unwilling
ly got mixed up with rascals and had
shared their disgrace. He had jumped
a bail bond and become a wanderer
his family having turned against him
not even knowing his whereabouts
Then he had been exonerated, and al
were anxious to make reparation. He
returned to England, where the fatte6
calf was killed for him by his father
who was rich.
Ryerson was in great luck. he was
regarded as the connecting link be
tween Cecil Manchester and his fam
lily, who had wronged him, and botf
were anxious to pour out favors upor
the artist whose marvellous likeness
had secured the wanderers return
Having been paid the reward, he wa:
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