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Tke Best Work of Famous Artist?
SBSBBSsssskrtT is not scmethlngi vague, Intangible, and In-
A definite; it li an expression of Individuality and
character. It la the artist's duty to express
this individuality. The painter has a better
TJTSJI chance to do this than all other artists; he
tS353jR ra,lB ' nl n,d color and form hesidc-s hi own
yJTSPo. genius he represents life ai It la rather than
as It appears. If this be true, surely we can
mil wonder that some of the greatest painters have (riven
their time and tnlent to the painting i.f portraits. It Is
among men and women they find character developed or
dwarfed; they see conflicting and often Irreconcilable emo
t'ons and passions. The feeling of the human race is hidden
In the hearts of men and women, and what the painters
have to Jo la to find the secrets hidden there.
Wllh thla thought in mind we understand why painters
1-i.vc given their best expression to thlr mothers' portraits.
Ir picturing them they penetrate far beneath the physical
firm to mind and soul; they see the face Illuminated by a
soft, penile glow called maternal love for want of a better
mime. Painters such aa Whistler, Rembrandt, Freer, and
Chase knew they were expressing the loftiest and most
sacred theme In painting their mothers likenesses, or they
revcr could have portrayed such sweet and noble gentle
women. Whistler's Song of Motherhood.
James Abbott McNeil Whistler, the ureal magician of
(ne harmonies, In his well known portrait of his mother.
s.mir one of the noblest and purest songs of motherhood the
world ever heard. But this was not strange, he always was
devotedly attached to her. He wanted the world to know
that he loved her as his mothi i rather than as a woman of
beauty and fashion. He shows her In profile, wearing a dress
and white cap; her face has a transcendent expression so
common to older folk. Her hnnda are folded on her knees,
only a handkerchief relieving the somherness of the dress.
The whole is a study in black and white. Its theme in one
cf melancholy. The countenance has so thoughtful a look.
I he figure is so slight that we should feel this woman had
sacrificed too much were t'.ie face not touched by serenity
and the form Messed with repose.
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Whistler was well nwar Hint this portrait was his mas
terpiece and he was sensitive on this point; he did not like
the thought that some of his achievements were better than
ithers. He often comforted himself by saying, " Walt until
the Saraeate Is as old as the mother with a skin of varnish
that has mellowed. " Whistler made two paintings of Ms
mother; one Is owned by the French government and the
other has found its home In Chicago.
Ixing before Whistler lived Rembrandt, the great Dutch
master, expressed his debt of gratitude to his mother by
painting her portrait. It is often mistaken for that of Ellz
abeth Rhb. found In the museum at Amsterdam. Although
this Is one of the most remarkable portraits, in point of
technique, the etching of his mother is more attractive. She
sits a little to the right and her eyes are glancing down
ward; her head Is covered with a black open veil, her habit
is black, and her bands rest on her breast. The fnce is tlnely
finished with a light point that Is expressive of old age. The
face and hands are deeply scarred with lines, but the
softness of expression shows that this woman bore her sor
iow with meekness and forbearance.
Chicago Man's Mother Picture.
Only a few of the great painters have portrayed like
nesses of their mothers. In more recent times, none has
been so successful In this undertaking as Frederick Freer
of Chioago and William Merrltt Chase of New York. When
Mr. Freer was asked how he happened to paint his mother's
portrait he said: "When my friend, Duveneck, was here
h took a great fancy to my mother and asked permission
to paint her. I Joined him in the portrait. I had palnte'
her several times before, but never full length. I was glad
of the chance, but was sorry that my feeble efforts were not
more successful." v
In spite of this honest confession. Mr. Freer shows his
mother as a handsome woman with clear cut features; but
the expression of physical charms Is made subordinate to the
sweet, noble expression and gentility of manner. Though
there Is no effort at Imitation In treatment, thla picture sug
gests Whlstler'a portrait.
The paintings of William Merrltt Chase of New York
are so well known and admired that they need no word of
commendation; his women and children are known for their
tH-uuty and naturalness. Notwithstanding that the likeness
of his mother Is less well known than the others, It is
atamped by a conscious simplicity and deep feeling of love.
The face is also merrier, showing that she has borne her
trials more easily or she has been spared.
These few paintings show that the theme of motherhood
i n worthy one, a desirable essay for the greatest masters
A Tr ading Stamo with Everv
JUSTICE of The PEACE APPEALS TO WOMAN'S BARGAIN INSTINCTS.
it'BTICE OF THE PEACE VANDEN BERG of
Menominee, Mich., begs to enter the lists with
Judge Hendryx of Bloomlngton, 111., as a con
tender tor prominence as a marrying Justice.
Aa told several weeks ago Judge Hendryx Is
the champion of champions in the number of
marriages performed. He has already mar
ried 8,000 people and is still In the harness and
working hard. He has fitted up one corner of his court
room as a marriage parlor, and the young folks of his section
of the country have a way of describing a marriage with
the word " Hendryxed."
tip In Menominee Justice Vanden Berg makes no claim
of having performed as many marriage ceremonies as has his
distinguished Illinois contemporary, but lis Is out strong
after the record. . He has not fitted up his courtroom aa a
marriage parlor, nor does the sign that swings before Ills
office bear words to Indicate that marriages are his specialty.
He Is more progressive, Is Justice Vanden Berg. He is giving
trading stumps with every wedding.
Hopes to Beat All Records.
Now let Judge Hendryx and other justices with long
records of marriages to their credit look to their laurels!
The passion of woman for bargains Is universally known.
The storekeeper who gives trading stamps has first hold on
the female trade. And It takes one woman for every wed
ding. 8o there is every reason to believe that the Justice
who has adopted this popular method of Increasing business
will reap the rewards of the enterprising.
Like a Friday Basement Sale.
The girls of other sections of the country must be sat
isfied to get one mere man when they marry, but the maids
of Menominee and the surrounding country not only get a
man when they marry, but delight to the feminine heart
they get trading stamps with him! Couples entering Into
the court of Hymen under the guidance of Justice Vanden
Berg are made doubly happy. They are made one, and
they get little green stamps, good for anything purchasable,
on the side. Why need one seek further for real bliss?
If the young women of Mvnomlnee are all like women
as we know them generally, the enterprising Justice will be
kept busy handing outtradlugstamps to newly married
couples us long as the supply of marriageable young men
lasts. Think of It, girls! Trading stamps with every man
you marry!
Advertises in the Newspapers.
Justice Vanden Berg is not the man to let his light shine
under a bushel. He knows that he can tie the matrimonial
knot Just aa fast, neat, and strong as anybody In the business,
and he is not going to let the people of his region remain In
ignorance of the fact. So, like the wise man he Is, the Jus
tice advertises. Better still, he advertises In the newspapers.
This Is the ad. that has been running In the Menominee
papers for several weeks:
" Justice Vanden Berg will hereafter give trading stamps
with every marriage certificate."
Simple and direct the ad. is, but It has occasioned no end
of comment In the country where It has been circulated. It
has spread dismay among other justices and ministers who
do a good " marrying business," and It has brought delight
to the hearts of prospective brides. The first day after the
advertisement's appearance Justice Vanden Berg's mail was
doubled. The next day It was further Increased. Within a
week hundreds of letters hud poured In on him, all containing
inquiries concerning the ad. Apparently hundreds of Mich
igan and Wisconsin young people were watting for some
such inducement before they ended their courting! In mar
riage, for It whs from this class of persona that the lettera
come. Each and all of them queried aa to the truth of the
statement.
Ceremony Not Lessened Because of Stamps.
" Do you mean business?" asked one young woman, with
determination expressed In her scrawl. Young men wrots In
to Inquire whether there were any " strings " to the offer.
Others wanted to know how many stamps would be given.
The Justice was kept buvy for days answering these lettera
and assuring the anxious Inquirers that the stamps were the
regular trading stamp variety, and that they went with the
regular, old fashioned marriage ceremony, the kind that
their mothers used. He assured them that his marriages are
guaranteed to be the best In the market, and that there Is
no deterioration of quality because prises are offered.
Justice Vanden Berg Is an old settler of Menominee and
luia Uiejrvelfure of the region at heart. He knows .well toatj
if a country is to grow and prosper uu l be great there muut
be homes. And to be homes there must be marrying and
giving In marriage among the young folks. With an eye
to Increase the number of weddings in Menominee and the
adjucent country, and Incidentally to add to his fees, he has
formed his novel plan of attracting " trade." His business
Interests and the heart Interests of the young people are one.
He has been marrying people for years, and he Is easily the
" marrying justice " of his section. .ie never falls to deliver
a heart to heart sermon to the young people whom he weds,
and he guarantees Immunity from unhapplness In the union
of couples where the young man makes the fee $10 or over.
Not that the Justice Is mercenary, but, as In all things,
matrimony included, $10 will buy a better quality than $2.
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Menominee Slighted by Cupid.
What prompted Vanden Berg to Issue Ills announcement
was the fuel that the young people of his town were sadly
negligent in the matter of marriages. For some reason there
was no ringing of wedding bells In the northern peninsula
of Michigan. There was no business for the Justice. Bo dis
inclined were people to marry that a wedding was an event
of first magnitude. Justice Vanden Berg, looking over the
situation and comparing his decreasing receipts from wed
ding fees with those of the year before, saw that something
must be done to convince the young people that it was not
good for them to live alone. Therefore came the advertise
ment. Had to Save His Business.
" Why, the situation here was growing to something
serious," said the Justice. " No one was getting married.
My business waa falling to nothing. Something had to be
done. I knew that all young women have a tender spot in
their hearts for trading stamps, and It Is the young woman
who really decides whether there is going to be a wedding.
At luaat, she sets the day. So I knew that If I offered
trading stamps with every marriage certificate there would
be a considerable stir created In matrimonial circles. And
I was right. I weighed a number of other plana carefully
Iwfore deciding on the stamps. But one day I went down the
street and saw how the women were fighting to get into a
store where they were giving trading stamps Willi every
,mtlo. Thut decided me. The sla nips won, and from now on
I will be a winner In getting the weddings of this town.
" This plan may look like a catch-penny afTair, but It
isn't. The slumps I give will be redeemed at any store In
town for furniture, dishes, or groceries. The young couple
that comes here to be wed will have at least one wedding
gift, and they can have the privilege of picking out what
they wunt.
Relies on Woman's Weakness for Bargains.
" Of course, the number and value of the stamps will
depend upon the size of the fee. Still, I will give more
stamps to the couple of neat appearance than to the one
whose appearance Indicates that they don't try to make a
good showing. Just aa I take trouble to deliver a little lec
ture to the boys and girls who seem willing to listen to mo
with respect. I probably will eventually adopt the usual
ratio of the stores that give out trading stamps one for
every 10 cents of my fee. This will mean ten for $1, fifty
for .", and the young man who thinks It Is worth $10 to be
married will be rewarded by having loo stumps in the family
just as soon as the wedding Is over.
" With this they can get a nice present for themselves at
any of the stores, or can use It to purchase the first Install
ment of groceries with. While, of course, love is the great
tiling In all weddings, there are few women who will not
slop even on the way to their marriage to look at an offer
of trading stamps. In this scheme I surely have the women
will) me, so I can't lose."
Gets the Michigan Trade.
Much of Justice Valid. m Berg's previous trade haa been
from Wisconsin, which state Ilea just across the Menominee
river from his town. In Wisconsin wise solons have drafted
laws to restrict the devotees of Cupid. It is necessary for a
young couple who wish to wed there to take out a license
five days before the date of the cer niony. Michigan has no
such hampering law. So the young people of Marinette and .
other nearby towns In Wisconsin are In the custom of slip
ping across the river to be married. Justice Vanden Berg
lias previously secured much of this business, and now, with
the stamp held out as an extra inducement to elopers. It Is
t xpected that the roads leading to his office will lx- well
tramped by young people suklng to be luuriied by the
trading stamp justice.
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JUSTICE VANDEN BERG.
