PORTRAIT PAINTING.-A portrait painter in large practice might write a
pretty book on the vanity and singularity of his sitters. A certain man came to Copely,
and had himself, his wife and seven children all included in a family piece. "It was, but
one thing." said he, "and that is the portrait of my first wife-for this one is my second."
"But," said the artist, "she is dead you know sir; what can I do? she is only to be admitted
as an angel." "Oh, no! not at all," answered the other; "she must come in as a woman; no
angles for me." The portrait was added, but some time elapsed before the person came
back; when he returned, he had a stranger lady on his arm. "I must have another case of
your hand, Copely," he said; "an accident befell my second wife; this lady is my third and
she is come to have her likeness included in the family picture." The painter complied-
the likeness was introduced-and the husband looked with a glance of satisfaction on his
three spouses. Not so the lady, she remonstrated; never was such a thing heard of-out her
predecessors must go. The artist painted them out accordingly, and had to bring an
action at law to obtain payment for the portraits which he had obliterated.-Life of Copely,
Family Library.