Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 December 1884 — Brooks’ Oversight. [ARTICLE]

Brooks’ Oversight.

The story of the man who religiously wound up his clock every day for ten years, and then found out it was an eight-day clock, has amused the world from time immemorial. The following story is of the same kind, but the point is emphasized by the fact that it had actual occurrence in San Francisco. Brooks, the ar.ist, had his studio for a great many years on the top floor of a building on Clay street. His pictures of still life have met, in latter years, with considerable appreciation, and, in a modest way, he is comfortably fixed. Bat, for a long while, his lot was a hard one, and there was but little money available in his pockets. His studio became noted for the stuff and tnbbish it contained The corners o. the room were dumps of artistic debris buried under three layers of dust. Brooks was not a good tenant. His rent was not promptly paid. It would accumulate for months —even years—and then. nnJer threat of execution, be 1 qnidated by a picture. The relations between landlonl and tenant were not txactlj of a nature to allow of conces-

sions, and so Brooks' request for running water in bis room was net acceded -to. For seven or eight years the old man went down, twice a day, three flights of stairs end up again the same narrow way, with a bucket of water drawn from the fancet on the first floor. It was bard work for the old fellow, and occasioned semi-daily 'bursts of profanity. It happened one day, that a wealthy ladjy took 0 fancy to a large painting of a ]*eucoek —a work on which Brooks had spent much time and talent. She bought the picture for a good round snm, and the artist felt so wealthy thathe determined to clean, renovate and decorate his stndio. The place was cleared, swept, washed and painted. In one comer, under an accumulation of diversified rubbish, was discovered a plain, simple little fancet The discovery nearly sent Brooks crazy. Even to this day, the thought of the steps up, bnd the steps *’owa. and the violent language he might have spuiefl himself, puts him into an easily understood rage. —American Queen.