Paul Veronese, like many other painters, was given to
eccentric moods and odd habits. On one occasion he accepted
the hospitality of a family at their beautiful country villa.
He assumed great liberties during his visit, claiming absolute
possession of his room, allowing not even a servant to enter.
He would not suffer the maid to make his bed, and the sweepings
of the room were left every morning outside of the door for her
to remove. He slipt away without bidding the family good-by.
On entering the room the servant found the sheets of the bed
missing and at once reported that the painter must have stolen
them. After careful search a roll was found in a corner, which
proved to be a magnificent picture of “Alexander in the tent of
Darius.” It was painted on the missing sheets of the bed, and
the artist had chosen this curious way of recompensing his hosts
for their generous hospitality.--FRANK H. STAUFFER,
_The Epoch_.
(2231)