Your Family's Parlor, Baltimore, Maryland, 1870

"But I want to be an artist!"

Your father scowls. "You belong in the family business. You'll work your way up from ledger boy to banker just as I did, and my father before me."

"But I want to travel to the Western territories! I want to paint the American landscape like Bierstadt and Moran!"

Father sighs. "All right. I will make you an offer. Go west, young man, and practice your art. If you can prove yourself a worthy landscape artist, I will send you to the best art school in New York. And if you fail, you will return to Baltimore to work in the family firm—with no more mention of this artist nonsense!"

"I'll do it!" you say. "And I'll make you proud!"

"We'll see," Father replies, and returns to his evening paper.

Now pack for your trip!