The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-02-13

II
gued, and quite safely. that marks in
college or seminary are not at all indi'
cative of the degree of after success,
| it is neverless true that habits OF idle
| ness and negligence fail to secure IA
vorable recognition in the service of the
| government. WhistIer's record at
West Point seems remarkable rather
| on account of the number of dement's
| standing against his name than for any
other reason.
The old habits OF. carelessness seem
to have followed whistler into his de-
partmental life. Unfortunately for his
peace of mind, the chief clerk of the
survey, Mr.. Porterfield, was strict
accountant, perhaps, for those times,
| a martinez, and the lact of punctuality
| was considered such serious Offense
that the small portions of time was
carefully recorded and deductions made
from the pay envelope. The first de-
duction for loss of time amounted to
two days in one month. In the month
of January. 1855, Whistler is credited
with only 61-2 days work, hardly a
prosperous condition when We remem-
BCI lIlclL hd6Go hSAO bNb FA'|N RNA
day.
This constant hardness and absence
from work was a source of much an
noyance to Capt. Benham, who had
hoped that this position would be
stepping stone to better things for the
son of his old friend. To avoid criti-
cism and a possible charge of favorit-
ism, an attempt was made to reform
Whistler's habits of reporting at the
office for work at a late hour, as he
never seemed fully aware that o'clock
was the hour for commencing work at
the survey.
To aid in the reformation the service
of young man named Adolphus Lind
enkohl were enlisted in the scheme by
Capt. Benham, who was most Jealous
in his attempts to work a reform.
Lindenkohl was also an employee of the
survey, and at this time about Whist
ler's age. His exemplary habits and
we'll known punctuality had won there
gard of his chief, and it was believed
that his influence with Whistler would
be all that would be required to secure
his attendance to his duties at the
proper hour.
The plan so carefully arranged by
Capt Benham was as follows: Linden
kohl was to make himself as agreeable
as possible to Whistler, call on him at
his rooms and commence a series Of
morning calls at an hour when Whist
Ter could be given ample time to pre-
pare for his arrival at the survey at the
of q ct
pied a room at the corner of Twelfth
and e streets Northwest The building
is still standing and is occupied by
Ehrmantraut as a restaurant. The
calls were usually made at such an
hour that Whistler would be found in
bed. He was always most cordial in
his welcome to Lindehkohl and seemed
grateful that he would be able to have
his company on the way to work. He
would promise to dress at once and be
ready to depart in a few minutes. Then
he would stop just long enough to
make cup of coffee and take a light
breakfast. The coffee was made by
means OF tiny alcohol lamp. and
Lindenkohi was always cordially in
vited to have a cup of coffee. n.s. u
During the preparation for office and
the making of the coffee Whistler was
in his most entertaining mood and
would relate with much ability for sto-
ry telling incidents of his life in Russia
and in Paris. To the untraveled Linz
denkohl these mornings were full of
interest, for he had seen but little of
life. Time passed rapidly in such good
company, with the result that instead
of the tardy Whistler reporting on time
at the survey, the hardness was COM
municated to Lindenkohi, and although
the plan was tried for fully a week,
Lindenkohi finally reported to Capt
Benham that 1t was impossible, with
out being positively rude to Whistler,
to make any impression upon his habits
of reporting for work. For him time
seemed but for enjoyment, never a re-
minder of the duties of the hour.
In his work at the survey 1t was
found that he had but little inclination
for the ordinary work Of the draughts-
man, and he was soon transferred to
the engraver's division OF that office.
In this work he seemed capable If there
was opportunity for something outside
of the ordinary map work. In spare
moments he would engrave ON the mar
gins of the plates fanciful sketches of
the qeer people that he had met in his
travels. These, IL they had been pre-
served, would have given to art coll
lectors rare examples Of Whitlerian art
at an early period. Unfortunately they
were always removed by the other
engravers, and the margins of the
plates restored to their original condi-
ton. The only authenticated specimen
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