Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-31

the thwarted passion of color possesses
him: and upon the f1agstones before
Thornsen's Elite Restaurant, Whlcr
constitute his canvas. he Will iliiil
you a full-rigged ship in two colors
a portrait of the heavyweight chain
\ aged, the Statue of Liberty IN iou T.
These be, however. concessions 10
popular taste. His own prediction IS
for chaste floral designs OF a symDonSS
by appropriate legends: Peter QUICK
Banta is devotee of his art
Judge. then. of the outrage upon
his sensibilities in the following cpl
sode. now historical in our sau u;rs-
tions. he was engaged. one April DAY,
upon a carefully represented mac
with a butterfly about to light on II,
when he became cognfzant OF raese .'
rogue of an urchin regarding nun
with a grin. Unfortunately. Peter
Quick Ranta misinterpreted tnis sisi'
"What dye think of that?" he said,
triumphantly, as he sketched In set
of side minister's presumably intend
ed for antennae) upon the butterny.
"Rotten," was the prompt RESPONSE
ssWhat" said the astounded artist
rising from his knees.
S'Punk." 1911.
Peter Quick Banta applied the hlgn-
er- criticism to the urchln's nearest
ear 1t was now that connoisseuI
turn to be affronted- Picking himseii
to his nose. and wiggied his fingers IN
active and reprehenslble SYMBOLISM
while charging upon his original cri-
tioue, in a series of shrill foarS:
"Rotten, Punk! No good: Swasn -:
ready his vocabulary was rich and
plenteous. though, in those days, talnt-
ed by his French origin
He then. regret to say. spat t, upon
the purple whiskers OF the r Su.'I long
stride of Peter Quick Banta soon
overlook him. Silently but violently
struggling. he was hailed back TO the
profaned temple OF art; ..;a p.t.r
Quick Banta. maybe you think you
could do it better" The world -oid re-
tort of the creative artist to his critic.
''Any fool could" retorted the BOY,
which. in various ss nc dor chsi, as sS' 90
Expecting that only Intervention wouid
prevent a murder. FASTENED out OF the
Elite, where l was drinking tea. But
the decorator of sidewalks had himself
under control. TRY it," he said grimly.
The boy avidly seized the crayons ex-
tended to him.
you want me to draw a picture!
III you don't. I'll break every bone in
Seuf oooy'
THE threat left its object quite un-
moved. He pointed. crayon at
Peter Quick Banta's creation. "What Ii
that? boolrush
tits a laylock; that's what It IL"
And the little, bird that goes TO
liRht-''
.rThat amt a bird. and you know it,"
IN OF OyYirk R2nfa. breath.
ing hard. That's butterfly"
II see. But the lie-lawc it drop-so!P
The gesture was inimitable. And the
butterfly. she do not come down. plop!
She foat-so." The grimy hands nut
tered and sank.
'.They do, do they? Well, you put it
down on the sidewalk"
From that moment the outside world
ceased to exist for the urchin. He fell
toswith concentrated feFvor. while Peter
Quick Banta and / diverted the trafic.
Only once did he speak. yellow" he
said, reaching, but not looking up.
silently the elder artist put the de-
sired crayon in his hand. When the last
touches were done the boy looked up at
ua,, not boastfully. but with supreme
coincidence.
IT was crude. 1t was ill-proportioned.
The colors Nste raw. The arranssments
butterfly lowered. The artist had spoken
through his ordained medium. ana the
p16eeHtment OF life stood forth. hardly
dared look at Peter Quick Banta. But
beneath his 'uncotith exterior there lay
great and mAgnanimous soul. >
Son. said he. You're wonder.
Wanta keep them crayons?"
Unable to speak for the moment. the
boy took off his ragged cap in one of the
messed. and raised dog-like eyes Of graft
tude to his benefactor. Tactfully. Peter
Quick Banta proceeded to expound, for
my benefit, the technique Of the draw
ing giving ing the yoIns.ter time to recover
"Where did you learn that:"
rNowhere. Had few drawing lessons
at No. 49,
. Would you like to work for me'"
Peter Quick Banta pointed to the side
..That?" The boy laughed happily.
That amt work. That's fun"
So the partnership was begun. the boy.
simplified into Tenney for local use),
sharing Peter Quick Banta's roomy gar
ret. Success. modest but unfailing, at
tended it from the first appearance of
the junior member of the firm at Coney
Island, where, as the local cognoscenti
still maintain. he revolutionized the art
and practice of the sand dabs" Out of
the joint takings grew a bank account.
and eventually Peter Quick Banta came
to me about the boys education
Hes a SWELL" said Peter Quick
Banta- Look at that face! I don't care
If he did crawl outa the gutter I'm
an artist and I reco'nize aristocracy
when ] see it, And I want him brung
up accordin'."
So / indicted the youngster int,
such modest groves of learning as an
old. half-shelved pedagoeue has ac-
cess to. and when the Bonnie Iassie
came to Our Square to make herself
and US famous with her tiny bronzes
fthis was before she had captured, re-
formed and married Cyrus Staten, the
GaunD. 1 tok him to her. and he fell
boyishly and violently in love with
her beauty and her genius alike. all Of
soul. She arranged for his art train
ing.
But you know. Dominic" she used
to say. wagging her head like a pro-
found and thoughtful bird, this is all
very foolish and short-sighted on my
part. Five years from now that gut
ter-godling of yours will be doing
work that will make people forget
poor little me and my poor little fig
ures"
To which / replied that even if IT
were true. instead of the veriest nom
sense. about Julien Tenney or any one
else ever eclipsing her. she would helm
him just the same
But five years from then Julien had
gone over to the Philistines
JUSTLY catalogued. Roberta Holland
> belonged to the idle rich. She
walIld have ohiectad ~ thu Io%<.r