A NEW DECORATIVE ART.

Westport Times, Volume V, Issue 837, 15 July 1871, Page 3

A NEW DECORATIVE ART.

Aesthetic longings may, perhaps, be satisfied with a passing glance at the pictures-in Goupii's orShaus' windows, but there is a charm about a particular sign in Chatham-square which absolutely rivets the attention. No illustration from fistiana can have a more striking effect. There stand portrayed, within the fistic ring, two noble brutes, sparring away, with potato-like, tuberculous, configuration of heads, the grogginess wonderfully hit off, the eyes especially showing those peculiar iridescent, tints, the resalts of their manly calling. Under the heroes runs this legend : " Black eyesinade natural in ten minutes." As a question cf social statistics, we fear it can never be satisfactorily ascertained how many black eyes are adffiraistered daily to the inhabitants of New York. If ever we can arrive at a tabulated statement, then we may tope some new Buckle will be forthcoming who may found on it some I imposing theory, throwing fresh lights I on the civilisation of this great Ameri«anlkpublic. It is presumable, however, reversing for once the true order of political economy, a demand must hare arisen for some ready method of <roncealingthose fortuitous adornments of the human face.

"Is it a regular business?" we asked of the owner of the establishment. "Are your artistic talents often called into play ?" "Every day, sir. This neighbourhood would be entirely lost without me. I have a constant run of cistom. My pallet is always in demand. From practice I have acquired that certainty of touch, that delicacy of handling without mannerism or stiffness, vhich is the perfection of art." " "What is the price of—of—" "Of obliterating those accirental hues which sometimes disfigun the human face divine ? From one <ollar to fifty cents, according to the customer and the nature of the bung" ■"BuDgl "What is bung?" wi inquired. " A bunged eye. For one dol'ar I lavish all ,the subtleties of my art. First, there is the groundwork t* be nicely assarted to the complexion, hen come in the flesh tints, then the utmraa and the shadings. Sometimes, st, I have been so happy in my effecfc in restoring an injured eye, that I lave absolutely eclipsed the sound one. so much so that I have been forced :o work up the good eye in order to restore a balance of effect. I have been paid 55c for what was my best miniature wcrk. That eye belonged to a very nice genleman in "Wall-street, who said he ad

accidentally fallen on a curbstom — broker. Fifty cents is my chargelbr toughs and politicians. I average abut ten eyes a day. Monday is most! a busy day, as the crop comes in f»m Saturday and Sunday. St. Patrie's Day brings a perfect harvest. A political reception of an Assemblyran from Albany always keeps me busy. I «et my pallet especially for the Gerran peace jubilee, but would you believat, sir.it was a dead loss of time cd material? The Germans have not;he least idea how to enjoy themselves a a rational way." "Do womei ever come to you ?' "Frequenty, sir,; always cloely veiled. I have been sent for, too,in;he jnost mysterious and romantic w.ys, to a carriage, to repair female dimages." "Of coune," we'remarked, "nobdy Wer came vith a black eye in a leatitnate way." " Hardly ever knew a case, sir. Mostly iff kindling-wood that doei it. « is amasiiis how spiteful kindlng*ood is, md how it will fly at a imn's head whei he tries to split it. BiseW£ too, seems to have a particilar "fang f«r the human countenaice. jtonips md posts and gas-lamps orght wbeinsantly removed, from the :en<tency fc ey Vve to black inno ent P«opleVeyer In a pretty careful wagnoisof the disease, I think I inay ggj ay that I never yet met with a Party where the priniar • <■ s " lit a cash business P"

" Impossible to conduct it otherwise. Sometimes, after the picture is painted and varnished, the money is hard to get. If the party goes back on us, we usually ask permission to add one finishing touch. This we put on with an extra daub of Prussian blue, which quite destroys the general harmony. We can afford to lose the money, but can't allow parties to get the better of us." Do our coloured brethren ever call on you ?" " Never had a case. That race, sir, is above those distinctions of colour. Tou may swell their heads, but their complexion never alters If we had a branch in Liberia it could not make a living." Tho reporter left, almost regretting that hisoptics were in their normal condition, so sure was he that had they been in mourning his friend would not only have restored, but even beautified them. We have every reason to pride ourselves on having in our midst a master hand in this most necessary bransh of decorative art.