, 1886-11-12
STATIONS PICTURE.
A TIME WHEN THE GREAT WAR SEC
RETARY GREW FEARFULLY ANGRY.

An Artist Portrayed Him In II Lilac
Colored Coat and Aroused His Ire
Painting the Death of President Lin
coin.
During the winter of 1867 IL New York
artist who had executed n fine painting
representing the death Of President Lin.
coin brought it to Washington and placed
IL in one Of the committee rooms of tho
Capitol, his object being to obtain life sit
tings from some Of the parties whose por-
traits were included in the group sur
rounding the dcathbed OF the dying prcsi-
dent, the portraits having been painted
from photographs. one Of the most con-
spicuous portraits in the group was that
of Edwin NJ. Stanton, secretary of war.
who was represented rs standing n few
feet from the head of the bed, towards
which his head wa turned, II full profile
view Of his face being visible. His left
arm was thrown behind him. and in his
hand he held n paper supposed 10 be II
Telegram. Strange as II may seem, tho
artist had represented him in Il lilac coat
and drab pantalOons, of II fashionable
cut and as unlike the loosely fitting gar
mcnis of dark cloth which he usually
wore as it would seem possible To make
them. So confident were those who saw
the picture that Mr.. Stanton would he
very angry when he saw himself por-
trayed in such n ridiculous costume. that
the artist was urged to rcpaint it before
he should visit the room, but this advice
was UNDECIDED.
PAINFULLY SIGNIFICANT.
Mr.. Stanton finally called at the room
10 give the artist the desired sitting
Taking "A sent in II large armchair. he
looked earnestly mt the picture, which
was then rapidly approaching compile
tion. For "A the deep silence
which pervaded the room was painfully
significant, 1t was finally broken by Mr..
Stanton, who uttered a most emphatic
and indignant protest against being repre-
scented in n fashionable and fancy cos
tune, so totally different from that in
which he was usually attired. "And
whoever heard, - said he, "of II cnbinet
minister wearing n lilac coat and drab
pantaloonsy' These were his precise
words. AS he proceeded he grew fear
fully angry, and finally rose to his feet.
His facc was almost purple. and his burly
frame quivered with rage. His wrath
was truly volcanic. For several minutes
he held undisputed monopoly Of the situa-
tion, for no one present had the temcrity
to interrupt him.
The artist seemed paralyzcd with aston
ishmcnt, not unmingled with fcnr. and
leaned against the marble mau4e 81 for sup-
port His left and grasped his palette
and brushes. and his arm hung powerless
by his side, while his face was of an ashv
palcness. After Mr.. Stanton had given
full expression to his feelings, and his
nngcr had, consequently, become some
what Modified, n friend Of the artist.
who fortunately happened to he present.
took II seat by his side and entered INTO
conversation with him, but found it i'm
possible 10 convince him that he had not
been grossly insulted. "What would
You think, said he, "if old Mr.. Welles,
who sits by the bedside, was represented
in knee brecches md with buckles on
his shoes II should think, - was the
reply, that the artist had committed an
objectionable anachronism, which he has
not done in our case; for though he has
taken n license in the draping of yonr
portrait, he has strictly adhered to the
costume of the day, while knee brooches
and shoe buckles belong to II bygonc
,.rf.I ~