Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-10-25
A Picture With q History.
CURIOUS STORY REGARDING A PORTRAIT
OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

Many have noticed the full length por-
trait Of President Lincoln which hangs in
the Riggs house. There IS a curious
story regarding it. The figure is Of heroic
size. and represents the Martyr Presi-
dent" standing at table holding con-
stitution in his hand. its fidelity to nature
has been commended by many old friends
of MIR. Lincoln, and positively testified to
by his son, the secretary of the war.
1t is the work of a young German artist
named w. K. Travis, and the circum-
stances surrounding its execution are
quite romantic.
In the early summer of 1862. bright
eyed German of about twenty appeared
at the capital. He was the son of a por-
trait painter of local repute in Frankfort
on the Main. According to the son, the
father had served under Butcher during
1.-THE hundred DAYS" that eliminated in
the battle of Waterloo. Young Travis
had had military education in addition
to the admirable course of instruction in
the gymnasium of his native city. Like
the Count de Paris and other foreigners of
greater distinction than this poor artists
son, Travis came to see some real war.
| He offered his services in New York be-
fore coming to Washington, had been re.
| iected on account of clearly marked pull
monary affection. When he reached here
Travis was respondent. He wandered
about the city for several weeks, but made
few acquaintance because of his limited
knowledge of the English language. One
day he visited the White House and saw the
portraits of the eXpresidents. An idea
occurred to him. If he could not fight
! for the struggling nation. he could at least
paint picture of its president. who occu-
| pied halowed place in the artists heart.
But the realization of his fancy was not so
easy. In vain he personally applied at
the white house to arrange for sitting
with MIR. Lincoln. He could not even
get to see him. But he continued to 90.
One day he met MIR. Lincoln on the street.
He approached and introduced himself in
very broken English. He told how he,
an alien. had tried to fight for this country,
had been r. iected, and what he desired to
do to leave something as a memento to the
strange land he loved so well. Though he
probably did not understand more than
halfthat the young artist said, the president
was impressed with his manliness and his
earnes,ness. He gave him an appointment
for the following day and kept it to the
exclusion of everything else. He sat for
al hour and told the stranger several
good stories-not twenty words OF which
Travis understood. A subsequent sitting
was arranged. but it was interrupted inst
after it began, and Travis never saw
MIR. Lincoln again. He went to New York
and sailed for home.
Now comes the really curious part of
the story. General Webster, relative of
Benjamin F. Butler, was one of General
Grants first foreign appointments. He
was made consul general at Frankfort
In the spring of 1866 tall, iull- bearded
man entered the consulate. introduced
himself and said that he had painted q
portrait of President Lincoln, and asked
that be might bring it there for inspection
and criticism by Americans. General
Webster, supposipg that it was a small
portrait, gave the permission in a spirit
OF friendliness to the people among whom
he was residing. Imagine his surprise,
then. rs heavy truck backed up before
the door and deposited this gigantic piece
of canvas. 1t required a dozen porters to
place it on the walls of the consulate
As those know who have seen the picture
at the Riggs, the canvas is fully ten feet