The Washington times., 1904-10-09
Artist James McNeill Whistler at the
Farm a Short Time Before
His Death.

beautiful feature of Mrs. Potter'z sar-
den.
ITO think" she said. as she gazed
moment into the clear depths % the
stream, that in a few hours that pure
water viii be running through grim old
London. with all its tragedies. You can
go by boat right from my garden 10 the
city, but, of course, IL would take some
time
River Near by.
The river is not more than sixty feet
from the house, and completes the pic
ture OF a pretty dwelling, recalling 70
mind Dean Swifts lines;
I've often wished that / had clear
For life three hundred pounds a year,
4 house TO entertain a friend,
A river at my gardens end.
In swift's time three hundred pounds
meant a good deal more than il does
nowi but, doubtless. the eccentric dean
would have found it difficult to run Mrs.
Potters place on any such sum. The
up-keep OF such an estate. conducted on
q style such as Mrs. Potter maintains.
must mean a small fortune each week.
she has splendid horses, and beautiful
carriages of various descriptions,
br0ughams, viCtorias. road carts bug
giles. and even little vegetable carts-or
"coster wagons''-to which she Occa-
sionauy bitches a couple of the ponies.
Magnifcence Of Furnishing.
Though Mrs. Potter's house from the
exterior presents an impression OF
wealth ana comfort, it is only after one
has passed within the portals that il IS
realized how weu OF Mrs. Potter really
must be. 49, as.-
''1IaguihcentIy furnished with most
exquisite taste" is the only phrase that
suits the case. Nothing is overdOnes or
cut OF place; from the souvenirs on the
tables 20 the rugs on the floors. The
hail is paved IN white marble, with
beautiful skin rugs 10 subdue the idea
Of coldness.
In the parIor white and gold is the
predomiuating theme. The airiness of
the whole place impresses you at once.
There is nothing OF the stuny profusiOu
of the overfuruished house. all the
rooms on the ground floor open into
each other; the nTeplaces are Old-tash-
tened and large enough TO sit in. yet
give cut all the heat possible from the
most modern construction. Beautiful
woods are used throughout the interior,
and some OF the rooms have ceilings OF
open beam work.
Everywhere In Mrs. Potter's home tells
q the artist. Tnere is not a nook or
window ssaU-and the place is more
than literally supplied with them-that
does not show some personal touch OF
the hand Of the mistress.
Trophies Of Mrs. PotteFs Genius.
No one could see Mrs. Potter's home
without feeling that perfection had been
attained in taste and furnishing. As
YOU go about the rooms you see hun
dreds Of trophies of recognition Of Mrs.
Potter's genius. Framed and placed
over the manteIpiece of the sitting room
are letters in their own handwriting from
Queen Alexandra. Robert Browning. VIII
kie Collins. and other persons OF great
note in the worlds affairs.
Though Mrs. Potter now lives a quiet
country life. she is evidently the center
OF attraction OF a very distinguished
circle OF acquaintances. Only a short
time before his death, James McNein
Whistler. the famous artist, visited Mrs.
Potter. and a ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS his
very lasr-taken with Mrs. Potter is
shown with this article,
/ Other leading lights OF the literary and
artistic world often md their way 70
I Mrs. P0tters and, In a manner, she
may be- said 20 have a species OF salon.
Mrs. Potter's personality speaks IN
( everythiug about her home and its man
/ agemeut Within the last two years
I her aged mother. Mrs. Urquhart, has
/ come from Louisiana 20 reside with her.
I Mrs. UTquhart is a brilliant converse
I tlOnalIst, and a great reader. She Keeps
I thoroughly in touch with the questions
/ OF the day, and one can readily see from
I whom Mrs. Potter mherits her talent.
| IT. A -4~---B v,s-----sas--
II you do not know Mrs. Potter, and
I meet her for the first time. a complete
! surprise awaits you. Instead OF a more
| or less Affected woman Of the woric.
gay 20 the point OF unkindness, unsym-
athetic. and more or less seIf-ceutered,
T you find one OF the simplest. most un-
/ affected Of women. Mrs. Potter abso-
I lutely puts on no side. as they say IN
/ England; she does nothing for effect.
and has a wonderful faculty Of making
/ herself interested in everyone around
I her.
/ Everyone I meet" she said. IN the
/ course OF conversation, lis OF interest
/ 20 me, i DO not care whether / am
talking 10 a duchess or 10 my own gar
/ dener. each one, as an individual, pos
I sesses interest 20 me. ] care so much
more for people ghan books, and that is
one reason. I presume why I do not
trouble myself greatly with the modern
novel"
Mrs. Potter speaks iu a direct. uuaf-
/ fected manner. and her remarks are ac-
/ compauicd with wide observation OF men
and manners. She has been three times