 in our own, have exercised their talents in this
manner. And wherefore limit to the rich and higher classes alone the delight
which the exhibition of works of art is calculated to inspire into all classes?
Statues are placed in the open air, why should Painting be more niggardly in
displaying her master-pieces than her sister Sculpture? And yet, my friend, we
must part suddenly; the carpenter is coming in an hour to put up the - the
emblem; and truly, with all my philosophy, and your consolatory encouragement to
boot, I would rather wish to leave Gandercleugh before that operation
commences.«
    We partook of our genial host's parting banquet, and I escorted Dick on his
walk to Edinburgh. We parted about a mile from the village, just as we heard the
distant cheer of the boys which accompanied the mounting of the new symbol of
the Wallace Head. Dick Tinto mended his pace to get out of hearing - so little
had either early practice or recent philosophy reconciled him to the character
of a sign-painter.
    In Edinburgh, Dick's talents were discovered and appreciated, and he
received dinners and hints from several distinguished judges of the fine arts.
But these gentlemen dispensed their criticism more willingly than their cash,
and Dick thought he needed cash more than criticism. He therefore sought London,
the universal mart of talent, and where, as is usual in general marts of most
descriptions, much more of each commodity is exposed to sale than can ever find
purchasers.
    Dick, who, in serious earnest, was supposed to have considerable natural
talents for his profession, and whose vain and sanguine disposition never
permitted him to doubt for a moment of ultimate success, threw himself headlong
into the crowd which jostled and struggled for notice and preferment. He elbowed
others, and was elbowed himself; and finally, by dint of intrepidity, fought his
way into some notice, painted for the prize at the Institution, had pictures at
the exhibition at Somerset House, and damned the hanging committee. But poor
Dick was doomed to lose the field he fought so gallantly. In the fine arts,
there is scarce an alternative betwixt distinguished success and absolute
failure; and as Dick's zeal and industry were unable to ensure the first, he
fell into the distresses which, in his condition, were the natural consequences
of the latter alternative. He was for a time patronised by one or two of those
judicious persons who make a virtue of being singular, and of pitching their own
opinions against those of the world in matters of taste and criticism. But they
soon tired of
