From Clarence House, December 6, 1919, a description of "A Bronc to Breakfast".

[handwritten] art work “A BRONC TO BREAKFAST” “A Bronc to Breakfast” was painted from an experience in the life of George Lane ^[illegible]after bar U-U^ of Calgary. which He told Charlie of an experience he had had when he was in the cow business which was his work for many years. Charlie painted the picture. When it was finished he was well pleased except for one thing --- "You know Charlie, no outfit ever had an axe without a broken handle. They always kept me broke buying new ones." So Charlie wrapped the axe handle to show it had been broken. Then Mr. Lane said "I like the picture fine. How much do you want for it?” Charlie knew perfectly well but turned to him and said “My wife is the hold up in this family.” That left me in a fine position. >Mr Lane took all his [illegible] it [illegible] painting and [illegible] it was [illegible] and of his estate [illegible] to Dr. Philip Cole “Clarence House St. James, S. W. December 6, 1919. Dear Mr. Lane: "I delayed answering your kind letter of October 9th till I received the picture you were instructed by the Committee to forward to me. It has now been handed over to me by Admiral Halsey and I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of so charming a present. I don't know how to thank you all suf- ficiently for this excellent and very characteristic picture of the early days when the cow man and Indian were hostile to each other. "The episode is a most interesting one and is admirably depicted by that clever American artist Mr. Russell, who if I remember right was himself at one time a cow boy . I remember his pictures at the time of the Great Stampede in Calgary in, I think, 1912. I can assure you that I will value this pic-

[Transcribed by Melynda Seaton, 2011-11-01]

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