The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-04
WHISTLER AND THE MILLIONAIRE.
just What Really Occurred Upon a
Celebrated Occasion.

New York Sun.
Here is true version of an oft-told
only faint racial likeness to the original.
A man from nowhere made large fortune
in London and at once proceeded to in
of art He sent agents the length and
breadth of Europe TO purchase the highest
priced pictures to be had-old masters if
possible; if not. copies by first-clasS art
lists, if they could be got to do the work
Modern artists were patronized in the orig
inal in fact, he set up a private Iuxem-
bourg crossed with spurious Louvre.
The home he built him was magnificent
art had such house. Everybody, or nearly
everybody, who was invited went to see it.
to remain, to feast, even to gaze on the
millionaire at his easel, brush in hand, the
him
But one crumpled rose leaf had the mil
lionaire. Whistler would not go to his
home. NIillais, Tadema, Sergeant and a
hundred lights, only trifie or less dis
Whistler could not be got through the
front door. When he saw the millionaire
coming he whsked around a corner; his
notes of invitation, of adulatfon, he did
not condescend to open; he turned Il deaf
ear to the opportunities of mutual friends
The art millionaire was in despair. His
wine turned to gall his palette grinned at
him, his sleep was infected with nightmare
which wore the disdainful smirk of Whist
assume an air of lofty unattainableness
In short he was miserable, for until
Whistler, the exigeant, the eccentric, the
impossible set the cachet of his approval
the art millionaire's position in the world
of art was open to dispute.
One day Whistler abruptly sent him word
that he would call the next morning, at 10
O'Clock. What actuated the great man will
never be known. The simplest explana ton
is that it one of his many freaks.
The art millionaire, fairly papitating with
JOY. received Whistler at the entrance of
his palatial home, effusive with welcome.
word. The millionaire offered his arm.
Whistler took it impassively and permitted
himself to be conducted over the house.
He walked through rooms filed with streas-
of Japan, of India, of Turkey; rooms
hung with priceless tapestries, inlaid with
rare porcelaines; rooms representing apart
mentS in ancient Greece, Rome, Pompeii.
He stared with fixed eyes and said never
a word. A dining room taken from feudal
castle, hall arched like Cleopatra'S bed
rooms, whose silken hangings could have
gone through the eye of needle-never
a word. es
make all allowances for the eccentricities
Of genius finally flung aside the portiere of
a great studio. In it were such couches
and stuffs and curios artists dream of.
guinea -an-hour models awaited the leisure
of the millionaire. Never a word Whist
Ter permitted his stony stare to roam from
one object to another. then swung his host
made for the entrance AS they descended
the grand staircase the millionaire burst
forth:
Great heavens, Mr. Whistler. amt you
going to say anything?"
Whistler turned abruptly and regarded
him for a moment with solemn stare
Then he brought his hand heavily down
on the millionaires back and exclaimed
ITS amazing! And-there' s-no-excuse-
for it.