Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-13

contribution before his visit to the academy.
/ informed General Sheridan OF this fact
upon. his return to Washington from West
Point during q conversation IN which he re-
lated to me what have stated touching his
conversation with Mr. Chlds at the acad
envy, and also the conversation between
Chlds, Sheridan and Sherman in relation TO
painting portrait of the last named.
Shortly after the conversation between
Childs and Sheridan, on the porch of the
superiptendents house, the battalion was
formed on the parade ground. General
Sheridan. accompanied by the superinten-
dent and staff and the board Of visitors, had
passed down the front and up the rear OF the
battalion, with ITS well aligned and rigid
ranks, in which he had once stood as cadet
and had taken his place at the point desig-
mated for the reviewing officer, when Gen
eral Sherman rode up from Crauston's hotel,
located about mile south of the reserva-
ton, Sherman remained in his carriage
which was drawn up in front of the parade
ground and in line directly in rear of the
reviewing officer. As the coros passed in
common, and subsequently in double time,
Sherman stood up and watched,
with old.tlme eagerness and pride,
the columns of gray and white until they
wheeled into faultless line, rendered the
final salute to the reviewing officer, heard
the cadet adjutant announce parade is dis
missed" ard saw the companies move, TO
lively music to the cadet barracks. Then he
alighted from the carriage, pushed through
the crowd that always fringes the parade
ground upon occasions of parade and review,
and joined Sheridan and the other officials
who still fingered on the ground When the
usual salutations and introduCtions had been
concluded, Sheridan drew Sherman ana
Childs apart from crowd and said "Sher-
man, Mr.. Childs informs me that he intends
to have portraits OF you and me
painted, to hang beside that OF Cen
eral Grant in the mess hall. He pro-
posed to wait until we die, put insisted that
the paintings be made before we die so we
may see how the artist executes us. He has
agreed to do this and told him he is the one
man who can and should do it.h
Sherman expressed great qualification with
this "Childs," saiu he, that is good idea.
/ think it will be admitted, and L can say 1T
without suspicion of egotism, that Grant,
Sheridan and myself were the three central
military figures of the war, and would like
that we should 20 down to Dosterity together.
Besides, | agree with Sheridan that the
scheme can be better, and with greater pro-
priety, carried out by you than py any other
man."
''Wen, it is all understood and settled" !"
said Mr.. Childs. 81 have told Sheridan to
select his artist, and now repeat that order
to YOU"
Childs was to have three portraits painted
the two generals We're overrun with letters
from artists soliciting the work. In Sheri-
dams case the applications were so numer-
Gus as to become annoying, and upon his re-
u
papers announcing that he had selected an
artist. 1t was Mr. Chlds' desire to have the
portraits flushed in time for the annual com-
mencement in June, 1888, and by his direction
1 several times urged Sheridan to select an
artist and have the work begun This was
not an easy matter for him to do, but he finally
| succeeded IN finding an artist in New York
with whom he partially arranged to paint
| his portrait. In the meantime he sent to
| Mr.. Childs a large photograph, taken about
| the time he left Chicago to succeed Sherman
| in command of the army. 1t shows the
| general in the full uniform of his rank, and
| was his favorite picture. Supposing, upon
receipt of the photograph, that the general
| intended that he should select an artist, MIR.
| Childs commissioned Mrs. Darragh to paint
| the portrait, and she proceeded with the pre-.
| liminary work, using the photograph referred
to. Some time thereafter | received a letter
| Darragh would visit Washington to consult
| General Sheridan about giving her sit
tlngs," aud requesting me to arrange with
the general for an interview. He was very
| much displeased upon being informed of the
| selection of Mrs. Darragh, and declared, with
| an exhibition of temper, that he would not
| see her He did not believe woman could
| paint mans portrait. Finally he cooled
| down and said the woman should have fair
| chance. Upon her arrival in Washington |
| accompanied Mrs. Darragh to the war de-
! partment and presented her to the general.
| The lady went to the department. with fear
| anu ITeuDllHS. Duc Dccu lHlOIlucu
| that Sheridan was not pleased with
| her selection, that he was a choleric, i'll
hammered man, and she therefore imagined
that he would be frigId. turbulent and dis.
| agreeable. l assured the lady that she had
| been given wrong impression about Sheri'
| dan-that he was quiet and gentlemanly IN
| department, and that she would be given q
| kind reception and respectful hearing. II
| was plain, however, that she was not I'M
pressed with my estimate of the general,
| and entered his Office with nervous appre-
| hension, which she vainly strove TO conceal.
| The general received Mrs. Darragh with the
utmost kindness. A cadet of the trst-class
| could not have exhibited greater suavity.
| The lady was made to feel at perfect ease.
| After considerable talk about the work in
hand, Sheridan said to Mrs. Darragh: ~
| have all idea that you artists get your own
| individuality into your work. | have been
| painted bv artists of several nationalities,
| but never by woman. The Italian artist
| made me look like brigand; the
| Frenchman made me resemble Napoleon,
between whom and myself there is no physi
Cal resemblance, except: perhaps, in height;
| the Spaniard made me look like two or three
| Mexican generals whom L have met. Now,
| madame" he continued, with twinkle IN
| his eye, and smile that illuminated his
| bronZed features, 81 am confident you Will
make good picture, but beg you will not
| make me look Iilte woman"
| Mrs. Darragh brought her canvas to Wash.
| ington, where the general gave her several
| SlttinBS. he saw Lne portrait Conpicteu III
every detail except the sabre, and was we'll
| pleased with it. A few weeks prior to his fata
| sickness he sent for me, and
after general talk about tho portrait,
| which / had recently seen while visiting
| Philadelphia, said he desired to have the
old sabre which he carried through the wal
painted in the picture, and he related to me
| its history. The scabbard is covered on both
sides with the names of the engagements IN
| which the general participated, and their
dates. The original scaboard, however, had
to be discarded during the war on account OF
| injuries received in action. IL had been
| struck several times by musket balls, anC
bruised in three or four places by being
| kicked or trampled by horses. Finally a
| new scabbard had to be procured, and this
shows signs of hard usage. had the sabre
| forwarded to Mr.. Childs. After he was
struck down by disease, and before his re-
moval from Washington to Nonquitt, the
general sent me an inquiry about the sabre
and received the assurance that it was in
| Mr.. Chlds possession and would be care
fnlly guarded. It's next and final duty was
| to rest upon Sheridans coffin. After his
death the artist changed the uniform in the
portrait from that of lieutenant general tc
IL Ana lAl