The Telescope

MISCELLANY.

The Painter & the Porter.

The following story is related in a late Paris paper: A painter who wished to represent the tragical end of Milo, of Crotono, met in the street a porter of a most athletic form. He admired his colossal figure and vigorous muscles, and offered to him a pound sterling if he would stand to him as a model. It was only necessary to tie his hands, and confine them within an iron ring, in order to represent, as well as possible, the trunk of the tree in which Milo's hands were imprisoned when he was devoured by wild beasts. The porter readily consented to the painter's proposal; he stripped himself and suffered his hands to be bound--

Now said the artist, imagine that a lion is darting upon you: and make every effort which you would do in such a case to escape his fury.--The model threw himself into the most violent agitation; but he made too many grimace, there was nothing natural in his frightful contortions. The painter gave him further directions, but still failed of producing the desired effect. At length he thought of the following singular method. He let loose a vigorous mastiff which was kept in the yard of the house, and desired him to seize the unfortunate captive.--This excited both gesticulation and utterance. The efforts of the porter thus became natural, and the fury of the animal increased in proportion as his struggles were violent. The painter in a fit of transport, seized his pencils. The patient however, who had been bitten and torn by the dog, uttered violent cries.

Excellent! Bravo! exclaimed the artist. Continue: Oh! that's admirable! Finally, the sitting, or rather the torture, being at an end, the artist offered the promised salary; but the model replied, that he had agreed to accept of a pound sterling for being painted, and not for being bitten: he demanded a large indemnity. The affair has been brought before the tribunals.