The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-24
RECALL BRIEF LIFE
OF WHISTLER HERE
Famous Artist Entertained
Russian Ambassador at
Dinner.
FOND OF GOING
TO THE DANCES
Pinned Coat Tails Back to Look
Like Dress Suit, and Went
In For Everything.

/ More than ffty-four years have passed
since Whistler bade farewell TO his
! small second-stOry room In the old
fashioned building standing on the
! northeast corner of Twelfth and +
/ streets northwest, in this city, the room
winch he called home during the brief
period Of his employment in the Coast
survey. Much has been written Of his
Oflef career in Washington, but it has
remained for Joseph PenneH, and Eliza
Deth Robbins Pencil in their recent
Lie OF Whistler" published in two vol
uines by Lippincott. to give additional
interesting details relating 10 the Wash
| hSton life Of the great master.
ms recent publication, which is ex-
haustive in the mass Of material col
lected from artists with whom Whistler
was Intimately associated and profuse-
ly illustrated from manv hitherto uu-
published sketches as well as from his
famous etchings and paintings, contains
an interesting chapter devoted TO the
period covered by Whistler's residence
in this city
Some Of the episodes are familiar. par
ticulariy those contributed by Mr.. Lin
denkohl, felIow-employe in the Coast
/ Survey, the substance Of which was
published in The Washington Times in
1902 A new episode is the informal
dinner given by Whistler 10 the Russian
minister. Whistler had resided in Rus
STA prior 10 his entering West Point
as a cadet From West Point Whistler
came TO Washington.
Served Humble Dinner i
1t does not appear that WhistIer's
humble lodgings diminished his desire
10 be hOspiJable, and IL IS related that
ne extended an invitation to dinner 10
The Russian minister which was accept
ed by that digultary. that he escorted
the minister 70 the Off.,-al carriage of
the legation and then IeIsureIy drove
with his guest 20 market where the
food for the dinner was selected. From
market they proceeded 10 WhistIer's
room where the artist in the presence
Of the representative Of the Russian
government cooked the dinner and serv-
ed same 20 his distinguished guest. who
IN referring 20 the affair stated that
curing ms residence IL Washington he
had never been so brilliantly entertain I
ed
Other information concerning Whist
Ter IN Washington comes from Henri
LaUOuchere, VINO In lS5f was an arJaChc
OF the British embassy In Washington.
From LabOucEere Il IS learned that
during Whistler $ residence here he was
iona OF society and attended all Of the
balls and receptions al the LEGATIONS
Not having a dress coat, Whistler pinned |
back the tails OF his frOck coat and in
this manner was able 10 appear at the !
Cluerent functions correctly CARRIED
Nhistler's own account OF his failure
10 get along at West Point as related /
TO the Secretary Of War, Jefferson Da-
Washington le sought employment
thrOu IN the War Department. and did
not IN any manner attempt 20 conceal !
The Tact Of his failure 70 pass his eX-
animation in the Military Academy. HIS |
explanation TO the Secretary OF War I
was that he had commended with the |
a gas, and that the professor contend I
ed thai Il was a metal, and Tor this I
reason he was unable 10 satisfy the /
professor that his knowledge OF chem
istry was sufficient
Italian Critic Is Here.
Bernard Berenson, of Florence. Italy. |
the most prominent authority upon 1
early Italian art, and holding in Italy |
the same position with reference TO |
Italian ar that DeGroOt holds in Ger
many upon the subject OF Dutch and
Flemish art. has been ~ this city for /
two days during the present week, en-
gagged in examining paintings by Ital-
ian painters produced during the period /
Of early Italian art. Several paintings
Were examined, including the collection /
IN the art store Of Victor c. Fisher, IN 1
Fifteenth street AS an author Mr.
BerenSOn has produced several books ]
bearing upon the Italian painters OF the /
Of the accessories OF thia simple room. |
different sections Of Italy tracing and /
locating the known works Of these
early masters in various museums and |
private collections
"a PTOvincetOwn Interior" Sold
The Corcoran Gallery or Art. acting /
for the artists represented in the pres
ent exhibition. has sold "A Province
town Interior" No. 147, hanging in gal
lery d, TO Jacob r Andrews for hi.
private collection This painting. by !
John R Conner, although small, is /
merftoTiOUs. I'D doubtless has found a /
strong response In mary a heart ia :
miliar with similar simple interiors
with somewhat OId-fashiOned furniture |
The chief point Of interest is not in l
the painting as an accurate transcript 4
OF ule accessories or this simple room, !
but In the figure Of a little glrl simply
dressed in a blue gown with its loose 1
and ample rolling collar.
The child IS a miss OF some seven
years, and is seated IN an OId-fashiOnpd
rocker. which she is Obliged TO TN
forward In order to reach the floor
with her bare feet. The child holds in 4
her lap a bowl OF bread and milk and /
her interest in this simple food. shows /
the zest Of appetite only known to the
young and hardy little people Of the 1
country where such food IS of itself a /
royal feast when seasoned by the sauce /
OF hunger.
Tangle for Statues.
With the Secretary Of War absent /
from the city, and with the models /
submitted for the Columbus competi-
ton, and the eight models submitted for
the Barry competition waiting for the /
decision OF the commission Of which |
the Secretary Of War Is an important |
member. and with the members Of a |
Hibernian society protesting against the |
location selected as a site for the Barry /
statue, and with the further rumOr that |
the Columbus statue may ne given an
other location than that intended on the !
plaza in. front of the Union Station. for
the reason that there is a possibility |
that this site will be desired for a me 1
mortal TO Lincoln, the affairs OF the
sculptural side of art in this city are |