PEOPLE WHO CAN'T TAKE HINTS

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1322, 22 March 1884, Page 3

PEOPLE WHO CAN'T TAKE HINTS

If some givers of bints are objectionable, tho people who can never take them are equally provoking. The well-meaning blunderers whose conversation consists in ruthlessly trampling on tho feelings of their companions—who joke about matrimony to a man whose wife has deserted him; abuse second unions to a newlywedded widow ; disparage self-made men to a millionaire who never knew a grandfather —all in defiance of the plainest hints from the bystanders—such individuals are not acquisitions to society. There is a story of a Dutch artist who fell in love with a rich and beautiful young widow, whoso portrait he was painting. He was poor and struggling, and pride forbade him to toll his love ; bnt he lingered ovei his work, touching and retouching, prolonging the delight of the ' sittings,' till tho lady's companion grew weary of accompanying her to the studio, and asked how long these delays would occur. Then the artist confessed that he was loth to lose so fair a picture from his easel, and that the price of the portrait could could never compensate for tho absence of its beautiful self. 'I must havo my picture,' said the fair widow, who had guessed hi 3 secret, ' but,' sho whispered, ' you can have tho original as your payment for the copy !' It i 3 needless to say this hint was promptly acted upon.