ofit by his talents. The pictures of Brower sold
readily at high prices, but the avaricious Hals treated him with
increased severity, lest he should become acquainted with the value of
his talents, and leave him. This cruelty excited the pity of Adrian van
Ostade, then a pupil of Hals; and he found an opportunity of advising
Brower to make his escape, which the latter effected, and fled to
Amsterdam. Soon after arriving in that city, he painted a picture of
Boors Fighting, which he gave to the landlord of the inn where he
lodged, and requested him to sell it. The host soon returned with one
hundred ducats, which he had received for the work. The artist was
amazed at such a result of his labors, but instead of exerting his
wonderful talents, he plunged into a course of dissipation. This natural
propensity to alternate work and indulgence marked his whole life, and
involved him in many extraordinary adventures.

BROWER, THE DUKE D'AREMBERG, AND RUBENS.

When the States-General were at war with Spain, Brower started on a
visit to Antwerp, whither his reputation had already proceeded him.
Omitting to provide himself with a passport, he was arrested as a spy,
and confined in the citadel, where the Duke d'Aremberg was imprisoned.
That nobleman lived in friendship with Rubens, who often visited him in
his confinement; and the Duke, having observed the genius of Brower,
desired Rubens to bring a palette and pencils, which he gave to Brower,
and the latter soon produced a representation of Soldiers playing at
Cards, which he designed from a group he had seen from his prison
window. The Duke showed the picture to Rubens, who immediately exclaimed
that it was by the celebrated Brower, whose pictures he often admired;
and he offered the Duke six hundred guilders for the work, but the
latter refused to part with it, and presented the artist with a much
larger sum. Rubens lost no time in procuring his liberty, which he did
by becoming his surety, took him into his own house, and treated him
with the greatest kindness.

DEATH OF BROWER.

Brower did not continue long in the hospitable mansion of Rubens, whose
refined and elegant manners, love of literature, and domestic happiness
were less congenial to this erratic genius than the revels of his
pot-companions. Brower soon became weary of his situation, and returned
to his vicious habits, to which he soon fell a victim in 1640, at the
early age of 32 years. He died i