⭐Osar wild’s ‘The Model Millionaire’ gives a philanthropic (love for charity) view of life through his two characters,Hughie and The Baron.
⭐Hughie was a good looking youth who captivated (attracted) all with his clear profile, get eyes and crisp hair. He succeeded in everything but not in making money. This left him with two disadvantages- as a buoyant (delightful) handsome but ineffectual (worthless) youth ad not able to win hs lady love, Laura Merton’s hand in marriage. Laura’s father, retired Colonel was very frim that Hughie should prove his worth as a professional. Hughie should have ten thousand pounds of his own before he talked of engagement. Hughie could not forgive himself for his inability to do what the colonel wanted.
⭐On his way to Holland Park one morning, he called on his friend, Alan Trevor, a painter. Trevor was quite unlike Hughie. He had a freckled face with a red ragged beard. But with his brush,he could produce portraits(sketches) that fetched him a good price.
⭐ Hughie found Trevor was about the finish a life-size portrait of a beggar. The model was standing looking pathetic (pitiable) in a corner of the studio on a platform.
⭐The beggar stood leaning on a rough stick with a coarse brown cloak flung on hisshoulders, a pair of petched boots and a hat held out as if asking for alms(charity). The cloak and the hat were battered and tattered (worn-out). His wrinkled old face and parched dry skin would have wrung (to cause great distress) any body’s heart.
⭐ Hughie commented that it was sad that the model earned only a shilling for every hour and the painter earned a fortune for the painting.
⭐Just then Travor was called as the frame-maker had come to see him. Trevor told Hughie not to leave till his return.
⭐Hughie could not help feeling sorry for the begger who was resting on a ench during Travor’s abanse. He Haggard (miserable) appearane and forlorn (lonely, forsaken) expression touched Hughie. He found some Copper coins and a sovereign in his packet. He slipped the sovereign into the beggar’s hands and the man(the beggar) expressed his gratitude.
⭐Hughie left after Trevor returned.
⭐The following day,at Trevor’s place, Hughie was surprised to hear that the model was very much interested to know everything about him. But Hughie was not very happy when he heard that Travor had revealed Hughie’s financial (money) status. He told Hughie that the beggar was his friend, Baron Hausberg ,one of the richest men in Europe.
⭐ Learning the true identity of the beggar Hughie felt embarrassed that he had given him a sovereign out of pity. It made Trevor burst into laughter. Also it explained the model’s interested in Hughie.
⭐The following morning, Hughie had a visitor from Baron Hausberg. Hughie stammered (stuttered) out his apologies (sorry). A letter was handed over to him with the words “A wedding present to Hugh Erakine- Hughie and Laura — from an ‘old beggar’. Hughie was surprised to find a cheque for ten thousand pounds — the Money he had to show to Laura’s father.”
⭐When his friend Travor heard of this, he remarked :-“Millionaires model are rare enough— Model Millionaires are rarer still !“
⭐ According to Alan Travor, a millionaire used to o dress richly and luxuriously and would seldom pose as a beggar for a portrait. But in Hughie’s case, a millionaire who could be referred as a model (an example) of magnanimity (generosity) was extremely uncommon. To pay the price of ten thousand pounds in exchange for a sovereign (all that Hughie had, then) showed the good – heart of a rich man.
❣Oscar Wilde’s short stories always have surprised end, ad also convey some philosophy of life.❣
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