other made him--therefore I
ask that the shrine shall consist of a great gallery, and in this
gallery shall hang the portrait of my mother.'

"So our committee called upon all the artists and they selected the two
best. One artist's name was Jake Smith, and he was born naked into the
world amidst dire poverty and considerable adversity, but he had become
a great artist for all that and had painted the portraits of many rich
and be-jeweled ladies.

"And the other artist bore the name of Glengary Du Peyster, and he was
born with a silver spoon in his mouth; but in spite of that he also
learned to paint, and he had searched out all the poor and wretched old
women of our slums and hovels and painted of them very great pictures.

"When these artists took samples of their work to show to our President,
he said: 'You may both paint my mother, and then my mother shall decide
which is the best painting.'

"'Very well,' said the artists, 'will you conduct us to her home?'

"So the President took them to a little flat in K Street where lived a
poor, blind widow and he said: 'Artists, meet my mother!'

"Glengary Du Peyster was over-joyed, for this was the kind of a woman he
could paint best, and he wished to send immediately for his canvas and
brushes.

"But it was not to be so, for the President now conducted the artists to
a mansion in D Street, and here in a great hall hung with tapestry and
shaded lights was a fine old lady, and the president said again:
'Artists, meet my mother!'

"And now it was Jake Smith's time to rejoice; and he glared at Glengary
Du Peyster, and neither of them durst speak their thoughts.

"Then the President took them both back to his official residence and
feasted them on grouse and wine, and as they sat about their cigars Jake
Smith said: 'Mr. President, which is your mother?'

"'Alas,' said our great President, 'I do not know.'

"At this both artists lost their artistic tempers and rushed into the
street. As the news-makers gathered about them, they told what had
happened and what the president had said, and it was published abroad in
our great Republic, together with photos of the two women, each of whom
the President had introduced as his mother.

"Then our citizens warmed to heated arguments and gathered themselves
into two parties, the poor to themselves under the leadership of Jake
Smith, for they agreed with him that our great President should have a
fine and noble lady for his mot