Bridgeton pioneer., 1917-10-04
Feminine
Gratitude
BY PAULINE D. EDWARDS

times. Providence had seen fit to be-
stow upon me a taste for art, and l
considered that must either give up a
life devoted to the work of an artist or
refrain from taking husband. / de-
cided to give up the husband. That l
had a taste for art l well knew, but
whether or not l had genius for art
must learn from the critics, for, though
the public is the final arbiter in all per-
tanning to genius, the critics usually
point the way. Tom was considered
one of the best art critics in America.
He had encouraged me in my pro-
fession till l told him that l loved it
better than loved him. In this was
silly, for it was an admission that 1
did love him and that had it not been
for my desire to shine as an artist I
would marry him.
One day after l had made this ad-
mission he came into my studio, as he
often did, for a chat. l was at work
on a marine view. He stood before
my easel examining the picture, which
was nearly finished.
Il have a suggestion to make" he
said. "You got your original inspira-
tion from nature, but you have done
too much work on it in your studio.
Go to the seashore and finish it there"
was in a quandary whether to take
his advice or stick to what others had
told me. After much deliberation l
packed up my traps and, taking my
mother with me, went to the Seaside
hotel at Veandeleau. There / spent
my time watching for some effective
light which would add a marked effect
to my picture.
A storm came up one day, and for
few minutes there was a glow of SUM-
light through rift in the clouds which
warmed the rocks and cast ivid light
on the waves breaking against them
that was a marvel of beauty. I hur-
riedly worked as much of it in as I
could in so short time, trusting to
put in the rest from memory.
Soon after l had done this night fell,
and took my picture to my hotel,
intending to resume work on it in the
morning. When the morning came and
looked at my canvas I saw an abom-
Unable daubing Of white, red and black
paint. 1t was at once plain to me
that had spoiled the painting. I tried
to change it; but, as for getting the
storm picture, had made botch Of it.
I could not finish it from memory, for
there was nothing worth finishing.
returned to my home. Tom heard
I was back and dropped into my stu
dio to see, he said, the result Of my
work at the seashore.
"Well," he said, "how did it work?"
Il have to thank you," replied Bit
terly, ''for having spoiled a picture
that was well enough as it was. 1t is
now daub, and can't restore it."
"Let me see it," he said.
brought it out and set it on the
easel in no good humor. He glanced
at it and seemed perfectly satisfied
with what had done.
"You tried to do too much" he said.
What I advised was to seize upon a
light similar to the one you had and
modify your work here and there in
the painting. You have evidently jump
ed from soft summer skies to-
ITO a hodgepodge," 1 finished for
him, ready to cry.
He saw that was disappointed and,
being the cause of my disappointment,
was very repentant. He cursed him.
self for a meddler and vowed he would
never interfere with an artists work
again. His penitence touched my heart.
Don't blame yourself" 1 said. "It
was all my fault. | should have been
satisfied with my work. You have
taught me a valuable lesson. Here
after will not aspire to do some Won
derful thing all at once"
"And you forgive me?" he pleaded.
"There is nothing to forgive. You
doubtless gave the advice in the spirit
in which took it, hoping to launch me
into fame all at once"
When two persons of opposite sex
begin to blame themselves for some
thing one or the other has done wrong,
especially where the man knows his
mind and the woman doesn't, they are
very likely to become very gentle with
each other. Tom swore he was to
blame, and l declared that it was en-
tirely my fault. The first thing I
knew his arm was about my waist and
l was mourning the loss of my picture
with my head on his shoulder
"You will find, sweetheart" he said,
''many disappointments in life. How
can we meet them with no one to SYM
pathize with us? Whether or not you
adhere to your profession, at least give
me the right to love you and comfort
you when distressed"
1t was so nice to have strong man
to comfort me in my trouble that 1
yielded then and there and told Tom
that l would love him instead of my
art. 1t made me happy to make him
happy. AS soon as 1 had yielded I
placed thousand times the value on
him that did on acquiring fame as an
artist. Indeed. | admitted as much.
After we were married and were re-
turning from our wedding triD we fell