roads of destiny-第13部分

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〃I　am　in　New　York；〃　went　on　Judson　Tate；　〃for　the　purpose　of　organizing　a　company　to　market　the　greatest　remedy　for　throat　affections　ever　discovered。　At　present　I　am　introducing　the　lozenges　in　a　small　way。　I　have　here　a　box　containing　four　dozen；　which　I　am　selling　for　the　small　sum　of　fifty　cents。　If　you　are　suffering〃

*　*　*　*　*

I　got　up　and　went　away　without　a　word。　I　walked　slowly　up　to　the　little　park　near　my　hotel；　leaving　Judson　Tate　alone　with　his　conscience。　My　feelings　were　lacerated。　He　had　poured　gently　upon　me　a　story　that　I　might　have　used。　There　was　a　little　of　the　breath　of　life　in　it；　and　some　of　the　synthetic　atmosphere　that　passes；　when　cunningly　tinkered；　in　the　marts。　And；　at　the　last　it　had　proven　to　be　a　commercial　pill；　deftly　coated　with　the　sugar　of　fiction。　The　worst　of　it　was　that　I　could　not　offer　it　for　sale。　Advertising　departments　and　counting…rooms　look　down　upon　me。　And　it　would　never　do　for　the　literary。　Therefore　I　sat　upon　a　bench　with　other　disappointed　ones　until　my　eyelids　drooped。

I　went　to　my　room；　and；　as　my　custom　is；　read　for　an　hour　stories　in　my　favourite　magazines。　This　was　to　get　my　mind　back　to　art　again。

And　as　I　read　each　story；　I　threw　the　magazines　sadly　and　hopelessly；　one　by　one；　upon　the　floor。　Each　author；　without　one　exception　to　bring　balm　to　my　heart；　wrote　liltingly　and　sprightly　a　story　of　some　particular　make　of　motor…car　that　seemed　to　control　the　sparking　plug　of　his　genius。

And　when　the　last　one　was　hurled　from　me　I　took　heart。

〃If　readers　can　swallow　so　many　proprietary　automobiles；〃　I　said　to　myself；　〃they　ought　not　to　strain　at　one　of　Tate's　Compound　Magic　Chuchula　Bronchial　Lozenges。〃

And　so　if　you　see　this　story　in　print　you　will　understand　that　business　is　business；　and　that　if　Art　gets　very　far　ahead　of　Commerce；　she　will　have　to　get　up　and　hustle。

I　may　as　well　add；　to　make　a　clean　job　of　it；　that　you　can't　buy　the　/chuchula/　plant　in　the　drug　stores。



VI

ART　AND　THE　BRONCO

Out　of　the　wilderness　had　come　a　painter。　Genius；　whose　coronations　alone　are　democratic；　had　woven　a　chaplet　of　chaparral　for　the　brow　of　Lonny　Briscoe。　Art；　whose　divine　expression　flows　impartially　from　the　fingertips　of　a　cowboy　or　a　dilettante　emperor；　had　chosen　for　a　medium　the　Boy　Artist　of　the　San　Saba。　The　outcome；　seven　feet　by　twelve　of　besmeared　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　law…makers。　The　greatest　state　in　the　West；　an　empire　in　area　and　resources；　had　arisen　and　repudiated　the　old　libel　or　barbarism；　lawbreaking；　and　bloodshed。　Order　reigned　within　her　borders。　Life　and　property　were　as　safe　there；　sir；　as　anywhere　among　the　corrupt　cities　of　the　effete　East。　Pillow…shams；　churches；　strawberry　feasts　and　/habeas　corpus/　flourished。　With　impunity　might　the　tenderfoot　ventilate　his　〃stovepipe〃　or　his　theories　of　culture。　The　arts　and　sciences　received　nurture　and　subsidy。　And；　therefore；　it　behooved　the　legislature　of　this　great　state　to　make　appropriation　for　the　purchase　of　Lonny　Briscoe's　immortal　painting。

Rarely　has　the　San　Saba　country　contributed　to　the　spread　of　the　fine　arts。　Its　sons　have　excelled　in　the　solider　graces；　in　the　throw　of　the　lariat；　the　manipulation　of　the　esteemed　。45；　the　intrepidity　of　the　one…card　draw；　and　the　nocturnal　stimulation　of　towns　from　undue　lethargy；　but；　hitherto；　it　had　not　been　famed　as　a　stronghold　of　aesthetics。　Lonny　Briscoe's　brush　had　removed　that　disability。　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　afflatus　must　have　sprung　up　within　him　in　spite　of　the　desert　soil　of　San　Saba。　The　tricksy　spirit　of　creation　must　have　incited　him　to　attempted　expression　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　paintingone　might　almost　say　panoramawas　designed　to　portray　a　typical　Western　scene；　interest　culminating　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　cowpuncher；　occupied　a　position　somewhat　in　the　right　background　of　the　picture。　The　landscape　presented　fitting　and　faithful　accessories。　Chaparral；　mesquit；　and　pear　were　distributed　in　just　proportions。　A　Spanish　dagger…plant；　with　its　waxen　blossoms　in　a　creamy　aggregation　as　large　as　a　water…bucket；　contributed　floral　beauty　and　variety。　The　distance　was　undulating　prairie；　bisected　by　stretches　of　the　intermittent　streams　peculiar　to　the　region　lined　with　the　rich　green　of　live…oak　and　water…elm。　A　richly　mottled　rattlesnake　lay　coiled　beneath　a　pale　green　clump　of　prickly　pear　in　the　foreground。　A　third　of　the　canvas　was　ultramarine　and　lake　white　the　typical　Western　sky　and　the　flying　clouds；　rainless　and　feathery。

Between　two　plastered　pillars　in　the　commodious　hallway　near　the　door　of　the　chamber　of　representatives　stood　the　painting。　Citizens　and　lawmakers　passed　there　by　twos　and　groups　and　sometimes　crowds　to　gaze　upon　it。　Manyperhaps　a　majority　of　themhad　lived　the　prairie　life　and　recalled　easily　the　familiar　scene。　Old　cattlemen　stood；　reminiscent　and　candidly　pleased；　chatting　with　brothers　of　former　camps　and　trails　of　the　days　it　brought　back　to　mind。　Art　critics　were　few　in　the　town；　and　there　was　heard　none　of　that　jargon　of　colour；　perspective；　and　feeling　such　as　the　East　loves　to　use　as　a　curb　and　a　rod　to　the　pretensions　of　the　artist。　'Twas　a　great　picture；　most　of　them　agreed；　admiring　the　gilt　framelarger　than　any　they　had　ever　seen。

Senator　Kinney　was　the　picture's　champion　and　sponsor。　It　was　he　who　so　often　stepped　forward　and　asserted；　with　the　voice　of　a　bronco…　buster；　that　it　would　be　a　lasting　blot；　sir；　upon　the　name　of　this　great　state　if　it　should　decline　to　recognize　in　a　proper　manner　the　genius　that　had　so　brilliantly　transferred　to　imperishable　canvas　a　scene　so　typical　of　the　great　sources　of　our　state's　wealth　and　prosperity；　landanderlive…stock。

Senator　Kinney　represented　a　section　of　the　state　in　the　extreme　West　400　miles　from　the　San　Saba　countrybut　the　true　lover　of　art　is　not　limited　by　metes　and　bounds。　Nor　was　Senator　Mullens；　representing　the　San　Saba　country；　lukewarm　in　his　belief　that　the　state　should　purchase　the　painting　of　his　constituent。　He　was　advised　that　the　San　Saba　country　was　unanimous　in　its　admiration　of　the　great　painting　by　one　of　its　own　denizens。　Hundreds　of　connoisseurs　had　straddled　their　broncos　and　ridden　miles　to　view　it　before　its　removal　to　the　capital。　Senator　Mullens　desired　reelection；　and　he　knew　the　importance　of　the　San　Saba　vote。　He　also　knew　that　with　the　help　of　Senator　Kinneywho　was　a　power　in　the　legislaturethe　thing　could　be　put　through。　Now；　Senator　Kinney　had　an　irrigation　bill　that　he　wanted　passed　for　the　benefit　of　his　own　section；　and　he　knew　Senator　Mullens　could　render　him　valuable　aid　and　information；　the　San　Saba　country　already　enjoying　the　benefits　of　similar　legislation。　With　these　interests　happily　dovetailed；　wonder　at　the　sudden　interest　in　art　at　the　state　capital　must；　necessarily；　be　small。　Few　artists　have　uncovered　their　first　picture　to　the　world　under　happier　auspices　than　did　Lonny　Briscoe。

Senators　Kinney　and　Mullens　came　to　an　understanding　in　the　matter　of　irrigation　and　art　while　partaking　of　long　drinks　in　the　cafe　of　the　Empire　Hotel。

〃H'm！〃　said　Senator　Kinney；　〃I　don't　know。　I'm　no　art　critic；　but　it　seems　to　me　the　thing　won't　work。　It　looks　like　the　worst　kind　of　a　chromo　to　me。　I　don't　want　to　cast　any　reflections　upon　the　artistic　talent　of　your　constituent；　Senator；　but　I；　myself；　wouldn't　give　six　bits　for　the　picturewithout　the　frame。　How　are　you　going　to　cram　a　thing　like　that　down　the　throat　of　a　legislature　that　kicks　about　a　little　item　in　the　expense　bill　of　six　hundred　and　eighty…one　dollars　for　rubber　erasers　for　only　one　term？　It's　wasting　time。　I'd　like　to　help　you；　Mullens；　but　they'd　laugh　us　out　of　the　Senate　chamber　if　we　were　to　try　it。〃

〃But　you　don't　get　the　point；〃　said　Senator　Mullens；　in　his　deliberate　tones；　tapping　Kinney's　glass　with　his　long　forefinger。　〃I　have　my　own　doubts　as　to　what　the　picture　is　intended　to　represent；　a　bullfight　or　a　Japanese　allegory；　but　I　want　this　legislature　to　make　an　appropriation　to　purchase。　Of　course；　the　subject　of　the　picture　should　have　been　in　the　state　historical　line；　but　it's　too　late　to　have　the　paint　scraped　off　and　changed。　The　state　won't　miss　the　money　and　the　picture　can　be　stowed　away　in　a　lumber…room　where　it　won't　annoy　any　one。　Now；　here's　the　point　to　work　on；　leaving　art　to　look　after　itselfthe　chap　that　painted　the　picture　is　the　grandson　of　Lucien　Briscoe。〃

〃Say　it　again；〃　said　Kinney；　leaning　his　head　thoughtfully。　〃Of　the　old；　original　Lucien　Briscoe？〃

〃Of　him。　'The　man　who；'　you　know。　The　man　who　carved　the　state　out　of　the　wilderness。　The　man　who　settled　the　Indians。　The　man　who　cleaned　out　the　horse　thieves。　The　man　who　refused　the　crown。　The　state's　favourite　son。　Do　you　see　the　point　now？〃

〃Wrap　up　the　picture；〃　said　Kinney。　〃It's　as　good　as　sold。　Why　didn't　you　say　that　at　first；　instead　of　philandering　along　about　art。　I'll　resign　my　seat　in　the　Senate　and　go　back　to　chain…carrying　for　the　county　surveyor　the　day　I　can't　make　this　state　buy　a　picture　calcimined　by　a　grandson　of　Lucien　Briscoe。　Did　you　ever　hear　of　a　special　appropriation　for　the　purchase　of　a　home　for　the　daughter　of　One…Eyed　Smothers？　Well；　that　went　through　like　a　motion　to　adjourn；　and　old　One…Eyed　never　killed　half　as　many　Indians　as　Briscoe　did。　About　what　figure　had　you　and　the　calciminer　agreed　upon　to　sandbag　the　treasury　for？〃

〃I　thought；〃　said　Mullens；　〃that　maybe　five　hundred〃

〃Five　hundred！〃　interrup