New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-11

practices is not complete over the doorway of the
White House. at the time when it passed into my
decidedly amusing, which had been painted up by
Mr.. Whistler himself. mainly for the purpose of
annoying his friend and architect. Mr.. E. W. God
win: Except the Lord build the house they labor
built this one This pearl of wit / had Clipped
of the stone and again the artist cried out in the
mains behind"; for, finding that there was little
fanny no means OF washing, altered the huge
studio at the top, and made bed and bath rooms
slightly the front elevation-consderably for the
Seemed S nafpes e had soe who s
over the building, was more aggrieved than ever
columns of THE World" a. 81 bore witness to
his wrath. I did not answer any Of these letters.
year or two had not fate so wed it that should
offend again, and this time beyond all hope of
In the spring of 1880 1 was. usual in those days
In Italy. and spent a few weeks at Venice. had
back canals a specially beautiful doorway, when
was whistler; In sondoia close by, shouting out;
as nearly as can remember. Hi, hi! What. what!
way? Confound your doorway 1 replied ITS
my doorway. I've been here for the last week"
that grating put up %ery much GGh Obliged s 10
you I am sure; it's very nice 1t was vepV Good of
you" And so for few minutes wranged:
but, seeing that the canal was very narrow and
that there was no room for two gondoas to be
moored in front of the chosen spot mine being al
ready tied up exactly opposite, / asked him II he
so; and I am bound to saw turned the tables on
me cleverly. For, pretending not to know who 1
was. he described me to myself. and recounted the
iniquities of the art critic of The Times"
AIRY Quilter-he always wrote my name AIRY in
his letters-and this great length, and With
much gusto. So he sat and etched and chartered
and to the best of my remembrance / enjoyed the
situation, and certainly bore him Ill will.
But few months afterward, when his first
OF Venetian etchings was exhibited at the Fine Art
Society, this plate of the doorway appeared among
them. and the private view day. fun of his we'll
meTited triumph. Whistler rushed up to me as /
was standing in front of this doorway plate, with.
''Ehi eh! what do you think of that now?" His
desire 10 be unpleasant manifest that the devil
entered into me-he always round the corner
in those days IL there the prospect OF fight
and said very loud, and in the hearing. should
think, of about thirty people Very nice, indeed;
but what a pity it's all wrong!' For once the
master had no reply ready, he was so utterly
astounded, and he only stammeree feebly. Wrong
himself into my hands. For had not spent twelve
days drawing that blessed gateway for nothing and
knew every stone CT the sculpture every line or the
ironwork. That's one merit OF the Rlskin method
Of study: IL may not make you a painter, IL may
hinder you from being an artist; but 1t does
make you abominably, pragmatieally accurate in
detail. Whistle-'s etching was a little master
piece knew that well enough even then. and said
so imperturbably In '"rhe Spectator day or two
later, and my drawing was-well, one OF my draw
ings, and scarcely a work OF art at all, but far
as fidelity went, the last was as superior TO the
first IL inferior in all the finer and more IN
dividual qualities of art.
This the last time ever spoke to Whistler,
and from that day his attacks on me. which were
cry numerous were extensively personal that
i fourl II better to cease writing about his art
altoEctlc