Evening star., 1902-08-02

true to nature geographically. / came
back in March and went to work.
The stockade? l had that erected so
that l could paint out of doors. BY so
doing 1 enabled to get the lights and
shadows the same at the battle. l do
the greater part of the work at about the
same time of day as the battle was fought.
Part of the inclosure is shielded by a shed.
The models pose in the open air, while
work under the shed. Sergeant Murphy
and others dressed in the Rough Riders
uniform have posed for me-"
President Didn't Pose.
Did the President pose for you, too?''
"Oh, no; that wasn't necessary. Mr.
Roosevelt is an interesting character. He
has a face and manners that one would
never forget. mistaken impression seems
to exist in many quarters regarding the
painting. Some of the New York newspa-
pers have printed stories to the effect that
the President was the central figure in the
painting. They have carried the idea that
the painting was for the purpose of pleasing
the Presidents vanity.
This is untrue. While the President is
shown in the painting, his figure is a mod
est one. He is represented as leading
column. The main picture shows the SOL
diers-Rough Riders, with regular cavalry
rushing up the hill The regimental colors
of the 1st Cavalry are in the lead of the
Rough Riders There was no intention on
my part to make the President the whole
thing. The President did not want such a
painting. He wanted painting that should
be accurate, and it has been my endeayor
to produce such work.
The last time Mr.. Roosevelt called on
me in my den he spoke of some trees COW
cred with red flowers. He thought the col
oring was not the same in the painting
and to be sure of 1t he had me make a sec
ond visit to San Juan hill 1 found 1t was
necessary to make the picture from one
side of the hill. The Rough Riders fig
ure to considerable extent in the paint
ing. L gave them consideration because
they were such an interesting personality.
The President saw that | grasped the
situation well. 1 told him that l found the
soldiers went in such and such way.
That's exactly the way they went he
told me.
1ntermingling of Cavalrymen.
THE charge up the hill represents an in
termingling of Rough Riders and regular
cavalry. The Rough Riders flag is shown,
as is also the American flag, which was
carried by the regulars. 1 am constantly
making changes in the picture, and 1 am
in hope to have it completed by the mid
die of the coming month 1 do not care
TO have any one see it until it is COM
pleted."
Verestchagin is an entertaining conversa-
tionalist. He speaks English we'll
1 lost beautiful gold watch that I had
carried for years while l was at San Juan
Hill,' he said. 1T dropped out of my
pocket in the tall grass, and l was unable
to find it. L suppose it will be found by
some one in years to come, and will be
placed in museum, labeled as having been
the watch of some officer or soldier who
lost his life at the battle
Nerestchagin laughed heartily as he said
this.
This famous artist while at Santiago
made a study of the naval battle, and he
has painted smaller picture of the en-
gagement that resulted in the dstruction of
Cervera's fleet and made the victory over
Spain complete.