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This is not dealing in art, it is art on the horse-block.

Here is the record of that one painting:

1734—Sold at Antwerp for $109 1791—Sold at Paris for 240 1814—Sold at London for 525 1830—Sold at London for 790 1831—Sold at London for 792 1832—Sold at London for 1,260 1841—Sold at Paris for 1,576 1913—Sold at Paris for 220,000

During the exhibition in New York and Chicago the pictures were the one topic of conversation; for the time being it was worth while to dine out; society became almost animated.

I recall one delightful and irascible old gentleman, critic and painter, who had not had a fresh appreciation for twenty-five years. For him art ended with the Barbizon school. Whistler, Monet, Degas had no sure places.

We all have the courage of others’ convictions.

The new, however good, is always queer; the old, however bad, is never strange.

Most people laugh at new pictures because they are afraid if they don’t laugh at the pictures, other people will laugh at them.

Now and then a man laughs at a queer picture because he can’t help it, he is a joy.