Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-08-20
N. p. Willis.

4uOuSn DOrn Ia PORTLAND, he was
bred mostly in Boston, and yet he was
one OF the most un Yankee characters
ever met. He did not we'll affiliate
with our free and easy democracy
rather holding himself aloof from the
everyday contact of persons whose
taste ard pursuits were not in accord
ance with his own.
In conversation Mr.. Willis was gent
al, easy and communicative, but Ger.
tainly not suggestive in thought,
though very much so in fancy. To
women he uttered graceful nothings,
and as they cost him no effort he did
not over.estimate them, He paid
courteous respect to me as he did all
others. often uttering elegant compli-
ments, which might have half turned
the head OF o vain woman; but to a
woman who mothers great pride, or
mothers great sorrow, these pretty
sayings are regarded as the fine fencing
OF practiced master of the foils.
think men like woman who can re-.
ceive compliment gracefully but not
too seriously.
II am most happy" I once said to
Willis, "in that suggest compliment;
l provoke men tn the exhibition OF
their affluent store of fancy; imagine
1 am like q millinery wax.fgure de-
signed for the exhibition of beautiful
fabrics"
How foolish we all arer' he re-
piled, Ito lavish incense upon q
shrine that never yields response"
That is too finished q paragraph to
be lost, Mr.. Willis; put it into your
next book. Why cannot writer's give
rs their real compliments in their
books They would be far finer than
what we read there"
In the closet we lack the inspira.
ton of fine eyes and speaking faces
the best things written are from the
"reminiscences of an evening like this,
when We are able to recall the most
fleeting thing in the world, woman's
SMILE"
I imagine, Mr.. Willis, You have
never quite done your genius Justice
you have never been quite enough in
earnest, pardon me, to accomplish all
you are capable of doing"
There you do me more than JUS
tice. have really been very diligent
man, and have made the best OF my self.
From the first weighed my capacity,
and estimated what was able to per-
form; have kept within my limits,
and made the most OF the field in which
/ am best capable of moving"
"You are not pretentious, I am sure;
and it seems to me your estimate OF
vOurself is too mOder ate"
~ think not; I think I have
achieved more from this determination
I made early in life to keep within my
prescribed bounds"
Gay, but it narrows the sphere and
represses aspiration"
"This vague tendency of the mind is
barrier to achievement. I deter.
mined to represent q phase in Ameri-
can society which was apt to be not
only neglected but treated with con-
tempt, namely, the refined, the fash.
ionable,' if you will, in contradistinc.
ton to that hard. national utilitarian-
ism so prevalent among us. I have
succeeded, and have shown that there
is much thai is desirable 10 fester and
cultivate amid the appliances of wealth
if we would redeem it from vulgarity,
We have too many dreamers among the
poetic, who make no mark because
they have no purpose"
~ half fear. Mr.. Willis, notwith.
standing your defense, that many fine
shades OF character may evaporate I'M
der this aesthetic utiiitarianism.
mot necessarily; We may present
phase to the public and preserve some.
thing at home-exhibit our peonies and
lilacs. and keep our violets and roses.
I often have letters from strangers who
imagine I am not doing myself Justice
earnest women, who urge me into this
or that sphere, but / know myself
better"
~ like that, provided one is we'll as.
sured. Old Montague ia excellent au-
thority upon this head, and advises
every man to see that the work he is
doing is traly his own work, and not
that which another man should do"
Mr.. Willis, by this rigid adherence
to his own estimate of himself, secured
q very distinctive Observation-Disclosures
able, poetic one. He was for many
years journalist of much tact, and his
pen always preserved generous airing
but not adv cacy OF the liberal ideas of
the day. Not earnest enough for
partisan, he leaned to the isms of radi.
calism, while at the same time he pre-
served strictly conservative ground.
e. CAKES SMITH.
THE WiFE.-Lord Beaconstield, in
the dedication of " Lothian describes
the person Of the dedication, as "a
severe critic, but q perfect wife,"