Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-10-14

bizarre Mcneil Whistler. lie has been
so long a resident abroad that It is now
almost forgotten that be is an Ameri-
can boy with a long line OF distinguish
ed ancestors. George Washington
Whistler was the famous engineer who
built the great Russian Railway, and
there have been General Whistlers In
the army ever since the days or the
Revolution. Mcneil Whistler was
bern In Lowell, Mass, and was
intended for q military career, like the
rest OF the family. he was sent to West
Point and given a military schooling.
From the first. however, he evidenced
strong artistic beat, and so profound
was his failure as a soldier that his
father al last gave him 40 In despair.
He was sent % Paris 70 study under
Gleyer and Oiher masters. A little later,
somewhere in 1868, he took up bis resi-
dence 10 London, and there has re-
NAMED.
Whistler is primarily an artist, and
chiefly so etcher. When Frederick
Wednore came 10 write Of "ths four
masters Of etching" few years agn be
nut Whistler as one OF the four. There
is 10 doubt Of his genius ia this direc-
ton, aud there is no doubt either that
he hos been able 10 achieve many start
ling effects as a color artist. he has
many original, and perhaps eccen-
trio ideas Of art, which
bays rather hindered his
artistic success, while they have made
him known 20 the multitude. He has
written several books, one OF which,
Ten O'clock" was published in Bos-
ton. His most characteristic effort was
the little volume put forth a year or so
ago, ION the Gentle Art OF Making
Eremies. A good many people who
read this little volume took 10 as piece
OF Whistlerian fun, exquisite at that.
Really, however, il was an exposition OF
Uhistler's fantastic philosophy. One OF
the most companiOnable fellows in the
world. he has a great fondness for airing
his personal grievances 10 the public
press, and very liieliEe performance
was the letter he wrote the other day,
assailing his former friend, Du Maurier,
for the supposed caricature be had
made OF Whistler 60 the character OF
Joe Sibley in "Triby." There was little
doubt as 10 the iudeutity Of SiOiey, but
few writers would have been az such
studions pains 90 advertise and resent
the fact As was Whistler Fantastic as
whistler is iu 50 many ways, his genu-
Inc ability has saved him from the fate
which would have been melted out % a
like irasclbls aud eccentric man OF lesser
talent.
The BEGINNING OF TWO LITERARY CA
REERs.
Back in the days when Mr.. Howells
was legislative spoudeut from Co
lumbus, Ohio, there was another young
man with similar dreams named Plat
John James Piatt. he had come up
from a little Indiana village to gain an
education, and incidentally livelihood
by sticking type. The two young men be-
came friends and few years later they
issued a Joint little volume, which was
for both the beginning Of their literary
careers. 1t was called Poems Of Two
Friends" 1t contained several pits OF
verse, which Russell Lowell, then the
keen-eyed editor OF the 1tidRtic Month
H. had printed in that magazine. Ii
did rot create a great deal Of a stir and
10 is only noteworthy as trial trip in
literature of two young men with an
indomiLabls determination 70 become
famous.