Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1895-05-09
WHISTLER Np rHEMILLIoNAIRE
Just what Really Occurred Upon Cell
ebrated Occasion.

ebrated Occasion.
Here is a true version of an oft-told
story OF Whistler, the distortion bear
ing only n faint racial likeness to the
original.
A man from nowhere made n large
fortune in London and at once pro-
ceeded to indulge a genuine, if some
what Grass, love Of art He sent
agents the length and breadth Of Eu-
rope to purchase the highest-priced
pictures to be had; old masters, If
possible; If not, copies by flrst-class
artists, If they could be got to do the
work. Modern artists were patronized
in the original; in fact, he set up a pri-
vate Luxembourg crossed with spuri-
GUS Louvre.
The home he built him was magniti-
cent. No man in London with leanings
! toward art had such house. Every
body, or nearly everybody, says the
New York Sun, who was invited went
to see it, to remain, to feast, even to
gaze upon the millionaire at his easel,
brush in hand, the robes Of Japan or
Of Greece flowing about him.
But one crumpled roseleaf had the
millionaire. Whistler would not go
to his home Millals, Tadema, Sar-
gent, and u hundred lights, only u
rifle or so less distinguished, had
graced his board, but Whistler could
not be got through the front door.
When he saw the millionaire coming
he whisked around the corner; his
notes of Invitation, of adulation, he
did not condescend to open; he turned
deaf ear to the opportunities of mu-
tual friends
The art millionaire was in despair.
His wine turned to gall, his palette
grlnned at him, his sleep was infected
with nightmare, which wore the dis
dainful smirk of Whistler, Even the
famous white lock seemed to 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 milllonalre's position
in the world Of art was open to dis
pute.
One day Whistler abruptly sent him
word that he would call upon him
the next morning at 10 o'clock. What
actuated the great man will never be
known. The simplest explanation Is
that it was one Of his many freaks.
The art millionaire, fairly palpitat-
ing with joy, received Whistler at the
entrance of his palatial home, effusive
with welcome. Whistler bowed grave
ly. He uttered never a 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 the treasures Of Japan OF
India, of Turkey; rooms hung will
priceless tapestries, inlaid with rare
porcelains; rooms representing apart
ments in ancient Greece, Rome, Pom
, peii. He stared with fixed eyes ant
said never a word. A dining room
taken from feudal castle, a hall arch
ed like Cleopatra's bedrooms, whose
silken hangings could have gone
through the eye Of u needle-never
! word.
The host, much perturbed, but will
] ing to make all allowance for the &c
> centricities of genius, finally fiunt
aside the portiere of great studio II
} it were such couches and stuffs and Gu
t rios as artists dream of. The easel'
were solid rosewood Two-guinea-an
hour models awaited the leisure of thu
millionaire. Never word. Whistle'
! permitted his stony stare to roam from
. one object to another, then swung hi
= host about, led him through the por
g there's, and made for the entrance. Al
$ they descended the grand staircase thu
: millionaire burst forth:
l "Great heavens, Mr.. Whistler
j Amt you going to say anythingY
0 Whistler turned abruptly and re
e garded him for moment with
: solemn stare. Then he brought hi
4 hand heavily down on the millionaire
!, back and exclaimed hoarsely:
4 ITS amazing! And = there's - nj
t | -pXcuse-fOr It,"