Show DICKENS LITTLE JOKE How It Was Suddenly Turned on the Other Party Charles Dickens bought pictures now and I then paying for them the sum the artists i asked But he once bought a picture for which he persuaded the painter to charge him a high price The story which illustrates j illus-trates both Dickens generosity and his love of fun is told in the memoir of Richard Rich-ard Redgrave the artist Maclise intending to paint a subject for j which he wanted a ludy as model asked j I Miss Hogarth Dickens sisterinlaw to j sit When the work was finished the figure was thought very beautiful and very like the model A few days afterward a gentleman called I on Macliso and said that an old gentleman in the country wishing to possess one of the painters pictures had deputed him to see what he had on the easel The one for which Miss Hogarth had sat was admired by the visitor who said he was sure it would please his friend to whom he would write and describe it I In a few days a letter came to Maclise written in a feeble old hand The writer in a delightfully garrulous strain expressed his admiration of several pictures of Mac use which he bad seen and asked the price of the one described by his friend as he was sure he would be pleased with it j I Maclise delighted with the letter hurried hur-ried away to show it to Dickens The letter is almost worth the picture I and I am so pleased with it that I shall name a low price said the artist Oh by no moans replied Dickens I you arc wrong for it is evidently from some rich old enthusiast who can afford to pay well Maclise argued the point and talked of putting a handsome frame to the picture without charge but was finally persuaded to name a good price for the painting In a day or two the gentleman who acted as the agent called again paid Maclise his price asked to have the picture packedand said a porter would call for it At Christmas two weeks later Dickens invited a large party to dinner Maclise among the rest But alas for the unravel ing of the plot Just as they were sitting down a note came from the painter plead ing illness as an excuse for his absence Dick nsfor he was the garrulous old gentleman gen-tleman had to unveil the picture without the pleasure of seeing Maclises look of astonishment Youths Companion |