OCR Text |
Show 320 PERSONAL ADVENTURES the former being from the \vorks of Raphael, Claude Lorraine, Poussin, Guido, &c., with some of the best specimens of J ullien's beautiful ~tudies aum deum crayons. The original drawings were by the person I saw before me, and struck me with astonishment. I saw at a glance that he had been a close student in some of the best of the Continental schools, and that he possessed genius of no common order. I-Iis history was the old story of the painter's life-early enthusiasm-unsuccessful struggles-a broken spirit. Unable, by the closest application, to earn more than a bare subsistence, he had laid aside his profession in diso·ust-"\vandered to the coast of South 0 America in search of better fortunes; and there hearina of the discovery of the gold ' 0 1nines, had made the best of his way to San Francisco. A being more unfitted for the rough trials and privations that awaited him in the placers could scarcely be found ; for, judging from his attenuated and hectic appearance, the seeds of consumption were IN CALIFORNIA. 321 deeply sown in him. Still, however, his gallant spit"it could not bring itself to yield to the symptomatic warnings of disease; and he spoke in cheerful and hopeful terms of the chances that lay before hitn, and of the probability of his soon returning to his native land with means sufficient .to enable him to pursue his profession, without his rnind being disturbed by the harrowing toils and cares of a daily struggle for existence. I had not the heart to dispel these bright visions of the poor young artist, by relating to hi~ the discouraging results of my own expenence; so paying hirn down without discussion the price that he dernanded (sixteen dollars), I carried off with me a valuable portfolio of ornarnental and architectural designs. Ere I conclude this chapter, which brings me to the eve of my departure from San Francisco I must not omit to mention a little incident ~hich though con1mon-place enough ' ' in itself will serve to illustrate the reckles. ' . spirit of adventure that drives so many etni-grauts to the shores of this country· p 5 |