New-York tribune., 1903-07-25
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
AN ESTIMATE OF WHISTLER.
Characteristics of This "Exoterically Enig-
matical Man"
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir; Your editorial of to-day on Whistler is
notable not only example OF the intuitive-
ness. alertness and multum in parvo quality OF
modern high class journalism. but of the applica-
ton in practice Of the aniable maxim de mortuis
MI nisl oonum; and the undersigned has read IL
with all the more interest because it is not many
weeks since he committed TO paper for possibly
future publication his estimate OF the remark
able man who has just Joined the majority, after
delivering his characteristic deathbed injunetons
for the puzzling and battling, even beyond the
grave, OF not alone the public, but his friends.
This estimate I have formed not only by improving
such opportunities usually afforded by the
public press where a or of mark is
concerned, but from one of quite exclusive char
acter, namely, the perusal-accorded for the first
time outside OF his immediate connections-of two
volumes of manuscript journals kept by Whstler's
mother in 81. Petersburg and England, from his
childhood to his early manhood
Making all allowance for a mothers partiaty
her daily references to her Jimmie exhibit
him in most attractive light. and have done
much to clarity my impressions of him adult
and to account to my apprehension for the sue
cesses Of his personality its best-as in the max
ing of friends and the gaining OF partisans during
professional career filed with turbulent episodes.
generally superinduced by himself and in which
he was quite as often in the wrong in the right
To the stock of information derived from this
original and hitherto unexplained source have been
ADDED orally many "reminiscences of his youth and
early manhood, detailed by relatives and friends,
neighbors Of mine in successive summer seasons,
with whom he lived for years
Much. too, relating to his professional and pri-
vate career throughout his subsequent life, which
has never been in print. have gathered from the
well known art connoisseur. Samuel P. Avery sr..
whose relations with Whistler have been very
very VINO invited me to make my researches into
exoteTIcSy enigmatida anWBo bV the way If
ne ne Were still alive, would spurn your aliusion TO
cordlng to him. the name Of Veiasquez was IN
worthy Of being dragged IN with his own-poor
nature was lneptly trying to creep up to his level
and and even the Almehty, though he allows Him
oesi;;nlng ; landscape or affording US other than
form a Judgment ct all on the various points you
muster near M Witn @ comments so ably condensed-W
echer, painter, conversationast and wiz and like
hage without return. headship without RESPONSE
SiILy ana attack without defense were allowed
erratic and elusive distinction But whatever
malice" II occasionally genial is more often
marked by the (pernaps sometimes unconscious
ally by frank Brutality but thiniy veed iIe BY cour-
% teous subterfHge And ! think that his fayorite ite
SGorouary that no human interest. should be en-
Is very bad doctrine indeed. though know it has
the support of perhaps not few superior artists
who have not got out of their professional rut be-
fore excogtation of the. proposition in all its bear
ng;s The s rule is well enough 70, for the Mos sT4sn
plane; but the master in any of the fine arts who
for, and obstructs the progress of the highest
attainable civilization.
whistler In short as l had occasion to write
some time ago, should be presented TO the rising
generation Of artists. who adopt graphic rendering
but as a warning" I said further. whistler 8
dicta deserve severe reprehepson for they give 10
tyros in art-rende-ing false MOTORS which win be
apt to put them out of touch with the public
their means of livelihood-fli them with vanity
the esoteric possessers of knowledge not under
standable by that public, and blind them to the
Lutte necessity: must reach down from her pedestal
to her conditions of epoch and place, and to her
encourage of current humankind and ga ther there
from the oil which feeds her lamp. And that
picture should be more than sample of its
makers deftness Of finger and wrist and his per-
haps defective eyes perception of mass, line, color
light and shade. like a pattern from a travelling
salesman's valse; that it should nave no relation
10 human motive passion, conscience. aspiration
shows narrow even If deep conception, or more
likely mere perfunctory verbiage."
Stonington Conn., July 49, 1903.