Life — April 18, 1895 — page 7: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

- LIFE: is meant to defy that prudish old lady. And the publishers have dis- covered that she likes to be defied. So all of us are doing our best to keep shocking her. It's great fun!” “I'm afraid I should tire of that also,” yawned Henri. “ One can’t always interest oneself in simply being shocking. It isn’t Art you know. After all, I've lived these awfully long twenty-four years simply for Art. I'm hoping it will keep me alive till I'm twenty-five. Then I'll die happy, like a lot of other geniuses.” “ Don't die,” pleaded Rosamund. “ There is plenty for you to live for yet. Beardsley has never yet illustrated one of your stories. You can't die happy without that.” “T've often thought of that also,” said Henri pensively, “but I can’t think of a plot wicked enough to appeal to so great an artist. Oh, my dearest Rosamund, why can't I be as wicked as the really great writers of France! I've tried to make my good old Yorkshire name look like something French; I drink absinthe, I read Maeterlinck and Verlaine, and occasionally I smoke opium. But it’s no use. Way down in my heart I know that I'd rather be playing cricket or riding a good hunter, or reading Thackeray. 1 can’t lie to you any more, Rosamund, and that’s the solemn truth.” “ Poor, dear fellow,” said Rosamund, stroking his fair curly hair, “1 did not know that your case was as hopeless asthat. I fear that after all 7he Callow Book editors would discover that you are a hollow sham, and keep you out.” “ My last hope isin you, dear Rosamund,” whispered Henri. . * Teach me what true wickednessis, and I will try toacquire it.” “1 think that I have put our creed in a poem,” said Rosamund, “and if you really grasp its meaning you are saved. Listen: ** To hate virtue, to despise truth, to love another's wife, To doubt your bosom friend—yes, that is best in life ! To write as though the world were evil at the heart, And full of hypocrites—Yes, that is ART!" “It's a hard creed" sighed Henri. “ Perhaps, I'd better remain a despised British Philistine, and go back to the old Yorkshire farmhouse.” “Then,” said Rosamund severely, “our love is at an end. You need never hope to be a contributor to The Callow Book, Farewell, false one! Fare- well!" and she swept through the turquoise por- tigres and vanished in the fog. Droch, NO DANGER OF SPOILING. RECOGNIZED HIS HANDIWORK. LE: Old Soak, despite his habits, appears to be a . GUSHER (a would-be suitor): What lovely teeth preserved man. Miss Smiler has, eh, old man? Yes, you know since he lost his money, he has Mr. Forceps: H’m, er—really—modesty forbids my been kept in brandy by riends. expressing an opinion, you know. ROSPECTIVE TENANT (o agent): You say this $¢ WV HAT pestect sympathy there is between Mrs. Plain- house is just a stone's throw from the depot. face and her daughter.” “ Well, all I have to say is I have great admiration for the “T should think so! How could she help sympathizing man who threw the stone.” with a daughter who looked like her.” ~HE: What effect does the full moon have upon the HE: Do you find that art is long ? tide ? D’AuBER: Yes; but we, its devotees, are generally HE: None, but it has considerable upon the un-tied. short. comicbooks.com