This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 Excerpt: ...it pernicious. But he indulged in stronger and much more pernicious liquor throughout the day. He cooked his own food, and ate it off a chair by the side of his easel. In the room in which he painted pigeons were flying about, and dogs and pigs were gambolling--a sad travesty of the farmyards in which he rejoiced, and ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 Excerpt: ...it pernicious. But he indulged in stronger and much more pernicious liquor throughout the day. He cooked his own food, and ate it off a chair by the side of his easel. In the room in which he painted pigeons were flying about, and dogs and pigs were gambolling--a sad travesty of the farmyards in which he rejoiced, and where his heart ever was. At last, residence in Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, became impossible for financial reasons, and because Morland's creditors watched the house so narrowly. How he escaped is not related; but he managed to remove to Chelsea, where he contrived to lie low for some time, safe from the clutches of those who would have taken advantage of the law as it then existed, and have imprisoned him for debt. For, it will be observed, the law was much more severe against debtors then than it is now. An impecunious artist like Morland could now walk about freely, and do his work undeterred by the awful suspicion that bailiffs were at his heels, and that every moment he might be seized and hurried off to prison. At the same time, on the principle that 'an Englishman's house is his castle, ' a man could not be arrested in his own dwelling. That was why Morland stayed indoors. But staying indoors, especially to a man like Morland, who was accustomed to outdoor exercise, undermined his health; and he had recourse to stimulants, which gradually sapped his strength. Whilst we cannot imagine what pleasure it could give anyone to clap George Morland into gaol, we can understand the folly of imprisoning a painter who was only able to redeem his debts by being allowed the free exercise of his art. Partly, however, from revenge, partly to wring money out of Morland's friends, several of his creditors resolved upon his imprisonment; and we can...
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