The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-01-04
WASHINGTON ALLSTON.
REMINISCE ENCES or THE GREAT
EST T4NERICAN 1RTIyT.

Boston Letter TO SIN Francisco NtU
Until within two years ago there
stood, in condition of tumble down
decay, yet rich in recollactions and
historic associations, IN old house
with al annex, on goo,lly piece of
land ut the corner Of Magazine and
Auburn streets, in that part Of
classic Cambridge called Cam
bridgeport. A fine block of brick
houses, known as "Allston Terrace,
stands on the site Of the dwelling
house and studio of Washington
Allston, who "wls one of the high
est products Of American civiliza-
ton and European culture COM
binei." He WAS tha intim ,te friend
of Sumner and Irving, Coleridge
and Wordsworth, T1orwaldsea ana
West, Longfellow and Claiming,
and many others. of thu foremost t
mon of his age. III his last volume
Of ARTIST Biographies" Mr.. Sweet
sar pleas ,ntly gives the inwsrdness
Of the life of Washington A,lston,
one of the few famous artists
America his produced. One canno It
converse with any Of tho first
families of Clmbril3a without
being remin lei in som, way of the
l'to OF AllsSon in Cambridge. Born
on long, narrow strip of land, in
the district Of Waccamaw, in South
Caroline, Allston came OF wealthy
baronial family. The Allston chill
dren all distinguished themselves.
Among others, Joseph D. Allston.
OF Baltimore, and late Of the Con-
tederate army, a gentleman fam ous
Tor his ringing war poetry, is u
grand-nephew Of the artist; and
Govern L 20 eph Aliston, of Sout
Carolina, who married Tnoolo5l.,,
daughter Of Aaron Burr, was ths
son of the painters grelt-unc Q,
Col. VIM. Allston. Washin y:on
Aliston was born Oh the B;ooh.
Green domain, twenty two niles
above Georgetown, in ITO. Af5or
coming to Cambridge, q f,vorite
resort Of the young C,rolinian WAS
the mansion OF Judge Fr,sncis DAM,
the Chief Justice Of NJ ,ss ,chu sot5s
and cx-A1inister to Rnssia. The
n )use WAS sta tel on sd ~ Hill"
Ills house WAS almost IL home to
many Of the stu Tents at the col
lage (Which Allston attended at
this time), especially those from the
Southern and Middle Svutos.
Among his classm ties weGo L,mnol
> law, profound juris+; Joseph
>. Buckminster, celebrated
Unitarian divine and scholar, and
Timothy Flint, famous for his
writings about the Mississippi
Valley and the far West. While IN
Europe MI. Allst)n painted between
forty and fifty pictures, of which
by far the greater number have
disappeared. The choicest of his
works after returning to America
are now possesse in Boston--some
in the Museum of Fine Arts, and
Others in the hands of The Dana and
other elder families. But with all
his talent, both as a painter and a
poet, Allston illustrated the
MISTAKES OF AN ARTIST.
If ne had devoted to his profession
oil the time which was wasted on
ds/etto,ate diversions, and had
avoided that colossal rock Of offence,
the "Belshazazrs Feast" he might
have gathered about him the flower
OF American youth, and founded O.
new and noble school of Western
art, prolific in illustrious works,
and adding Florentine or Venetian
elegance to the martial glories of
the Republic. Herein he failed,
through lack Of victory compelling
effort, and left but as many pictures
as could fill q large drawing >room,
while American art still remains
without head, and becomes an
appanage Of Paris. His magical
coloring attracted much attent tion.
Even in Rome, italian artists called
him the American Titan. His
marvellous carnations were never
even initiated. In his american
Notes." Dickens says that "Wash-
ing Allston, the painter (who wrote
'Monaidi), is fine specimen Of
glorious old genius" Grattans, in
his "Civilized America" calls
Allston sthe foremost of American
&>os,olo>e WI -, - ....t1.. c>1i