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The Artist of the Beautiful
Solong,however,asheremainedunderhisoldmaster’scare,Owen’slackofsturdinessmadeitpossible,bystrictinjunctionsandsharpoversight,torestrainhiscreativeeccentricitywithinbounds;butwhenhisapprenticeshipwasservedout,andhehadtakenthelittleshopwhichPeterHovenden’sfailingeyesightcompelledhimtorelinquish,thendidpeoplerecognizehowunfitapersonwasOwenWarlandtoleadoldblindFatherTimealonghisdailycourse.Oneofhismostrationalprojectswastoconnectamusicaloperationwiththemachineryofhiswatches,sothatalltheharshdissonancesoflifemightberenderedtuneful,andeachflittingmomentfallintotheabyssofthepastingoldendropsofharmony.Ifafamilyclockwasintrustedtohimforrepair,—oneofthosetall,ancientclocksthathavegrownnearlyalliedtohumannaturebymeasuringoutthelifetimeofmanygenerations,—hewouldtakeuponhimselftoarrangeadanceorfuneralprocessionoffiguresacrossitsvenerableface,representingtwelvemirthfulormelancholyhours.Severalfreaksofthiskindquitedestroyedtheyoungwatchmaker’screditwiththatsteadyandmatter-of-factclassofpeoplewhoholdtheopinionthattimeisnottobetrifledwith,whetherconsideredasthemediumofadvancementandprosperityinthisworldorpreparationforthenext.
