The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-18
THOMAS MAST
STILL AMBITIOUS
He Aims to Become a Painter
Of Historical Scenes.


in America. has been appointed Consul
General TO Ecuador.
IL is over ten years since Mr.. Mast has
been prominently before the public. but
previous TO that time he was one OF the
best known men In America. His repu-
tation in fact. was world wide. for his
cartoons were published In English.
French German and Italian papers. and
were frequently copied in the papers OF
the South American republics and in Aus
tralia. But for some ten years past Mr.
Mast has been living quietly at HIS home
In Morristown, ~. j., devoting his time
and energies 10 serious work and drawing
but few pictures OF the kind which made
him famous.
Many people in reading of the appoint
ment OF Thomas Mast thought II must
be the son OF the great man. for. strange
as II may seem. many believed the great
caricaurist TO be dead. or. II not dead.
then so old as 10 be put out OF business.
But there they were mistaken, for Mr..
Mast is only 81. and his speech and gem
eral manner are those OF "A man not above
30.
Mr.. Mast began his career at an age
when most young man are struggling for
an education or for an opening The
story OF rapid rise to fame and fortune
reads almost like fairy tale. AT the
age OF 16 he went to the editor OF Har-
per's Weekly and asked for position as
an artist.
1.-THE editor smiled" said Mr.. Mast. in
telling about H. but he said he would
try me and see what | could do. So he
sent me to the Hoboken ferry to make
some sketches of people leaving the fer
ryboats. When / turned In my drawings
he smiled again. but In a different way.
and Immediately engaged me at the enor-
nous salary OF 81 a week.
Mr. Mast accepted that salary because
ne wanted tho experience and training
with such a position only could give
He was rapidly advanced. and at the age
OF is was the best paid man on the paper.
When Gartbaldi led the revolution In
Sicily and Italy. Mr.. Mast was sent over
to follow the army and draw pictures.
He became and aide to General Garibaldi
and was with him during the campaigns
OF $3.50. seeing much active service and
being In many battles. He returned TO
America early in 1861 and was sent 10 the
front and was with the army during the
came a great friend OF General Grant, so
much so that when Grant left the White
House the first place he visited was the
home OF Mr.. Mast in Morristown. Then.
after General Grant had returned from
his trip around the world he mad Mr..
Mast another visit and gave him, as a
token or friendship and esteem, two vases
OF Japanese design. They were bought
expressly for MIR. and Mrs. Mast and are
beautiful examples of Japanese art work.
When General Grant did II was found on
a list of 25 people to whom copies of his
memories were to be given Mr.. Nasts
name stood tenth.
Mr.. Mast became wealthy and spent a
fortune on thed ecoration OF his house.
Pictures by the great masters. curios
from many different lans. coins OF an
Client manufacture, bric-a-brac, all were
bought 10 adorn thehome. He has q
carved wooden panel from the house OF
Shakespeare at Stratford-on- -the-Avon. He
has n cast from the original death mask
OF Shakespeare. He has coins minted at
the time OF Alexander the Great, the first
money to be put in circulation. He has a
vase 1000 or 5000 years old. dug from the
ruins Of theIsland of Cyprus. He has a
stone pot taken from the tombs Of the
cliff dwellers In Arizona, which Is 5000 or
1000 years old He has sets OF old En-
glish armor and two-handed swords used
during the time OF the Black Prince 600
years ago. In fact, his home isl Ike an
art gallery and curio hall In one.
For about FIVE years past Mr.. Mast has
been atwork on an oil painting. which he
believes will make him famous. 1t Is
head of Christ, and Is different in concep-
ton from any of the heads painted by the
great masters. This picture has just been
completed. He has also completed re-
Gently al ife-size portrait Of Rev Dr. Mer-
rtt, formerly a rector Of ST. Peters Epis-
copal church. who died several years ago.
This picture hung In the vestibule OF the
church for a few weeks after Its COM
pleton, and was admired by all who
saw it.
Just now Mr.. Mast is at work on
llfe-size portrait of General Robert +.
Lee on the day before the surrender. He
is also putting the finishing touches on =.
life-size portrait OF General Garibaldi He
met General Leo In Washington after the
surrender, but did not know him intl-
mately.
Mr.. Nasts great ambition now Is 70 go
down in history as one Of Americas great
historical painters. He finished SONS
years ago, painting OF Lees surrender.
II is called "Appamotox, or Peace ana
Union" and represents General Grant
pressing the hand of General Lee as they
meet for the surrender, Another painting
Is that of Lincoln entering the city OF
Richmond. Still another is called Our
Cincinnatus." representing a man return
ing from the war and going again to the
plow which he had left In the field when
called to do battle for his country and his
flag.
In accepting the appointment to Ecua-
dor Mr. Mast is not going TO give up art
He will take all his unfinished canvasses