Lucky Snook

It pays to patronize, especially when the prerequisite of patronage is a fine painting freely given by its author.

Last week, in Manhattan, the names of all the lay members of the co-operation Painters' and Sculptors' Gallery Association were hidden away, lottery-wise, then drawn forth. In the order of their names' forthcoming, the lay members were then entitled to choose one work apiece from amongst upwards of 150 pieces executed by leading artists of the U. S. The artists had donated their creations as tokens of their gratitude to the lay members for their support of the Association.

As the name-drawing began, patrons from many a state stood tensely by to learn their luck. Out came the first name: Albert Snook, of Aurora, Ill., publisher of The Aurora Beacon-News. Without hesitation, Mr. Snook marched to John Singer Sargent's canvas, The Chess Game, and claimed it for his own.