The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-26
BEFORE WHISTLER WON FAME.
STORIES TOLD or HIS EARLY
LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY.
lie Left West Point Because silicon Was
Not a dias--wOre a shawl at Breakfast
and His Companions Called Hum
"d!ransin,a"--I.as sketch Made Here.

l
! Mcneil Whistler many anecdotes have beSn
| printed in the days since his death. In
| cidents of the years Of his carly manhood
which were spent in this country as
cadet at West Point and later as a draughts-
man of the United States Coast and Geo.
detic Survey, have been more difficult to
| obtain, and comparatively few have been
| printed.
Up to his sixth year Whistler was stanch
| American Then the Whistlers went TO
Russia, and their sojourn in the land OF
| the Cars extended over six years. AZ the
! time OF his fathers death. when the mother
| and children returned to the United States.
Whistler was -. The family went 10 Ston-
ington. Conn, to reside.
Whistlcr's half-brother was living in
New Haven, and when on visit to him,
in 1851 James Whistler, having deter
mined to attempt military career. per-
suaded his brother William to address
letter to the Hon. Daniel Webster about
the matter. This letter, still extant, was
dated Feb. 10, 1851, and called attention to
the fathers long service to Massachusetts,.
He asked that James be appointed to West
Point concluding:
Tho yourself no longer identified with the
interest and prosperity OF 4 single state.
yet presume Massachusetts, has had. and
claims now. "A large share of your regard for
her and hers.
With great respect. Sir, | am your most
obedient servant,
GEORGE ". WHISTLER, JR,
Whistler was now rs. and was admitted
to West Point July 1851, registering from
p,yn whit hay his hAr had
removed. The young cadet became popu-
lar with his companions Immediately.
He was the rim gleadcr in all their FRANKS.
He had more the manners Of Frenchman
than of an American. In his studies he
excelled in drawing, but was sadly deficient
in some OF the others just because he would
not apply himself to anyth hing that did not
| interest him.
The serenity of Whistler's routine al
West Point was disturbed quite as much
by an idea he had conceived that he would
prefer the navy to the army as il was by
any OF his pranks. He got 100 dement's
in his first year. when he stood No. 2l2 on
The conduct roll Of pa. in the good company
of the afterward distinguished Francis
L.. yinton, ID. D.. who followed close as
No 213.
For his third year Whistler was found"
in chemistry, and. much TO his expressed
Joy, was dismissed in July. 1884 Years
alter, when some one asked him why he
had not remained at West Point, he replied:
Because, madame, silicon was not a gas"
After leaving West Point, Whistler visited
his fathers friends the Winans. in Balt,-
more being still DESTROYS Of entering the
Nava! Academy at Annapolis, but his APP
pointment was not effected, Finally he
entered the service OF the United States
Coast and Geodetic Survey at Washington
through the influence Of Capt Benham
t, Here he was employed as a draughtsman
from Nov. I, 1854 to Feb. -, 1855, receiving
! in compensation the sum OF $3.50 day e..
| which he used to call his levy"
! James A. Whistler, as he now subscribed
| himself, decided 10 practice economy in
| the face of his fortune, and secured lodg-
| ings in an old house still standing on the
northeast corner of f. and Twelfth streets.
contenting himself with a scantily furnished
room, and boarding under the same roof
; He came to breakfast late always. and would
stop on his way down the two rickety
! fights to scrbble pictures on their I'M
papered walls When his landlord remon-
] strated one day he replied:
! Now, now, never mind I'll not charge
! you anything for the decoration" firing
| mt last of his host a repeated protests he
| betoos himself 10 other quarters. having
| the advantage Of an altitude superior by
| two flights 10 his former abode. His attic
became delightfully."- Bohemian Since it
was his habit to appear at breakfast wear
| ing funny little shawl tied over his shout
| oers his companions now called him
"Grandma.' n nickname against which he
acorned protest Even in these days
Whistler assumed his superiority and took
so much time about it that ono finds in
report of that year this entry against his
! name
1.-TWO days absent and two days deducted
from monthly pay for time lost by coming
| late TO Office.
Edward dc Stoeckl. Charge d'A6aires
| Of the Russian Embassy at this time, and
! afterward Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenipotentiary, had known Whistler's
FATHER in 81. Petersburg and remembered
young Whistler himself Therefore he was
always al home to the Young American, TO
whom he took a great fancy. One day
Whistler decided TO invite him to dinner,
| and forthwith despatched an in aviation
| VI de Stoeckl had the grace to accept il.
| 81 on the appointed day Whistler engaged
| a carriage and called for his distinguished
friend As they drove on, Whistler turned
| TO the diplomat and asked him II he would
object to their stopping at several places
on the way. NJ. de Stoecltl, somewhat
| amused at the unconventi0nality Of the
request, was agreeable to the suggestion.
| and his young host then directed the COACH
man to a greepgrocers. a confectioner's,
tobacconist 5, and TO the shops Of several
! other tradesmen.
After visiting each of these he would
reappear with his arms full Of packa ges,
which he deposited in the carriage on a
vacant seat At last the two were brought
up to Mr. Whistler's lodgings After an
amazing climb up many stairs the repre-
sentative of the Emperor OF all the Russias
found himself in Whistler's attic.
Quite out Of breath, he was Obliged to
sit down, too exhausted to speak during
which time Whistler fitted hither and
thither, shipping lettuce into shape for
the salad, drying the oysters, browning
the biscuit, preparing the cheese, and in an
incredibly short time setting a sumptuo,ls
repast before his astonished guest, who
was not only immensely entertained, but
likewise delighted with the unique hos