The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-10-07

which had been completed then some Of
statue Of Abraham Pierscn at Yale College
Napoleon !. at Milford. Pa; Charles Morgan in
sd Gss Elaine ColGF bss, orn iis
Glory" medallion; portrait busts Of William
Cullen oI bryant in the MetrSopoltan Museum
Robert b. Minturn, and Capt Charles H.. Mar
shall; All Of Thompson,s work Is marked by q
quality of refinement and dellcacy of touch, and
by many he is still considered the foremost Of
It's had begun TO tell materially upon his health
and state of mind. His separation from his wife
live in Florence. where she has ' remained until
the present time. The separation which never
took the form Of divorce, was made by mutual
consent. II had become simply impossible forMrs.
Thompson to live with him. and he realized 1t as
well as she. Mrs. Thompson wrote to her hus-
complete breakdown and incarceration. Their
three children, two girls and boy; are still liy-
Ing with their mother. The son, who is the ed-
est, is now nearly "a years old.
Thompson was utterly incapable Of managing
and reaans th he cave es BOWER o @
over all financial matters to his old friend.
Samuel lawrence; Thompson was now on the
would be followed by three Of dissipation and
been known he became obnoxious. When under
the influence OF liquor he was boastful quarrel
with everybody who came in his way lie
would upset tables, smash crockery and
mirrors; and and could clean out a club room
cation with another member Of the Lotos whom
he threatened enc. TO thrash; Thompson was only
wiry and muscular man. His courage, how
ever. was not great; and no very serious en-
intoxicated. History does not relate the par
ticulars OF his row at the Iotos Club, but he was
requested to resign. Thompson. who had been
living at the club, removed his belongings and
took quarters at his other club. the Century.
soon his conduct there, too, became unbearable
Deprived Of his clubs, Thompson for short
ham. but the management finally had to request
him to absent himself Beside his noisy and Of
fensiye conduct, his mind had begun to be NJ
fected by his long course OF dissipation. lie
would enter a. restaurant and before ordering
Fl. sy wSs ss9@ for s% wh Gs
would sit thonghtfully for time ana then or
der another drink. This he would keep up all
no break fast. At other times he would order
and eat a hearty break fast and in an hour for
get all about II and order another
With the general collapse which was ap-
preaching the mans appearance had altered.
fiery hue. This fact, with the manner in which
he trimmed his moustache and imperial, gayo
friends remarked this resemblance Thompson
agreed with him. and set TO work TO make a bust
OF himself as the devil.
that Thompson went to live with John Snedecor
at 20 Firth avenue. He had never gone lack
from Italy but had opened n studio at Broad
way and Thirty-fourtii street. 1t was Just
works. snedecor, whom he had long known in
timatey, proved himself 10 be Ihompson's hest
friend by taking him e. live with him He CON
necessary to send him away.
Many were the sprees on which Thompson
anxiety for him was often great. Thompson
still managed TO do some work. however, and
OF work which he undertook was the |
burnside monument He worked on this
ns such as was nsssa he ad
He hired a deserted and tumble-down brewery, |
srsGsd II Eth stas and fTTnishsa the IN
worked at intervals for three years. A friend OF |
his named Messenger, who kept saloon in the |
interest when the statue was finally completed. |
money was laid aside, through tho thoughtful |
ness OF Mr.; Lawrence, for the times which all OF
Ills condition was going rapidly from bad to
worse. His sprees became more frequent and
The intervening periods shorter, Through 1t all
showed forth. One characteristic
story is told of his doings at this period, After
loaded into cab by the proprietor, who told the
driver Ihompson's address. Thompson imme-
put OF the windows on either side and with his
legs stitching through went TO sleep.
fused 10 get out. and the cabby after driving
around a while. was compelled 10 take him 10
The police station, Thompson suddenly became
French and Italian. Not a word OF English
could be got out OF him, and he was locked up
After the completion of the burnside statue
Thompson refused absolutely 10 do any more
scotch nobleman came 10 him for a portrait
Inst To be placed y The university at Edinburgh
price Tor the work. This ofrer aud a number OF
lthsrs he declined peremptOrily.
A. this time Thompson was fastened upon by
literary and artistic attainme nts, who, like the
sculptor, had fallen by the wayside. Unlike
,r could get IL by applying 10 Lawrence. When
ne had no money he had credit. With these
frequently go home with a blackened eye telling
cry when intoxicated.
,On disappeared for several days, and HIS friends
ound that he had been arrested, taken to eiTer-
Black wells Island. They secured his release,
md he was taken home. A few weeks after
William haslensd 70 the police court but looked
n vain through the records for the name of
ho9Ps9n; The next day he vent back and
ers. He was told that Thompson had been ar
ested, had given a fictitious name, aud had
)een committed to the Island for thirty days.
One of Thempson's friends secured an order
OF bis release and went TO Blackwell's Island.
When he saw the broken-dOwn artist clad in a
Onvlct's garb, his mind wandering, lie went
ZONE with the order In his pocket. The warden
old him IL would be useless 70 take him away.
or his condition was such that It would DO
natter OF but short time before he was ar |
ested again. After thinking about the mat /
er all night however, ThOmpsOn's friend
vent back TO Blackwell's Island and
oOk the sculptor home For about two |
weeks he remained comparatively sober Then /
anne an attack OF delTium tremens. Thompson
larrcaded himself IN his room, piling all his
urniture against the door and burying himself |
a his bedoIothes. lie had to be arrested again,
nd this time he was Committed BY the Police
Judge and removed 10 DR.. Peterson's private |
neAT Tuxedo That vas in 1890, aud |