The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-02-07
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
THE scuLPToR's RERuKE.

A once famous sculptor of Dussel-
dorf, named Grupello, having received
an order from the Elector, Prince 10
ham Wilhelm, for statue of himself
on horseback, to be done in bronze, re-
solved that the work should be mas
terpiece, and labored at it early and
late for many months, putting aside
all other undertakings.
At last the work was done, and the
sculptor had the statue set up in the
public square Of Dusseldorf, ready for
the opening day The Electora came
on the appointed day, and with him
his favorite courtiers. Then the
statue was unveiled. It was very
beautiful, and the prince was greatly
pleased with it. He shook hands with
the sculptor, like an old friend, say
ing: Herr Grupello, you are great
artist, and this statue will enhance
your fame; the portrait of me is per-
feet =
When the courtiers heard this, and
saw the friendly hand-shake, their
jealousy of the artist was beyond
bounds Their one thought was, how
could they safely do something to huS
initiate him? They dared not pick
flaws in the portrait statue, for the
prince had declared it perfect. But at
last one of them said, with an air of
great frankness:
Indeed, Herr Grupello, the por-
trait of his Royal Highness is most
excellent; but permit me to say that
the statue of the horse is not quite
SO successful; the head seems larger
than it should be- Is it not somewhat
out of proportion?"
NO." said another, 'the horse is
really not so successful; the turn of
the neck, there, is really tritie awk-
ward
'If you would change the right hind
foot just little, Herr Grupello," said
third, "it would be decided i'm
provement.'
Still another found fault with the
horses tail, which he declared was
not altogether natural.
The artist listened quietly. When
they had all finished, he turned to the
prince and said:
Your courtiers, prince, find good
many flaws in the statue of the horse;
will you permit me to keep it a few
days more, to do what I can with it %
The Elector assented, and the art
ist ordered temporary screen to be
built around the statue. For several
days the sound of hammering came
steadily from behind the enclosure.
The courtiers, who took care to pass
that way often, were delighted. Each
one said to himself: Il must have
been right, really; Herr Grupello him.
self sees that something was wrong"
Once more the artist summoned
the prince and his courtiers, and the
statue was again unveiled. Again the
Elector exclaimed at it's beauty, and
then he turned to his courtiers, one
after another, to see what they had
to say.
-"Admirable!" said the first. Nov
that the horses head is in perfect pro-
! portion, there is not flaw
'The change in the neck was just
what was needed" remarked the sec
ond: ut is really very graceful
now
''The rear right foot is now as it
should be-" observed third; "and it
adds so much to the beauty of the
| whole"
The fourth said that the tail had re-
ceived a masters touch.
my courtiers are much pleased
now" said the prince to Herr Cru
pello; they think the statue greatly
improved by the changes you have
made"
Herr Grupello smiled little. 81
am glad they are SO well satisfied -
he said: but the fact is, I have
changed nothing!"
what do you mean?" asked the
prince in surprise. "Have we not
heard the sound of hammering every
day? What were you hammering at,
them"
| 81 was ha1nmering at the reputation
of your courtiers, who found as much
fault as they could simply because
they we're jealous" replied the artist.
And rather think that their reputa-
ton has suffered in consequence"