The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-08
WHISTLER TALES.
Some Amusing PecuIiarities of
 the Eccentric Artist.
BARRING OUT BILL BEARERS

He Knew the Knock of Each CoIlecto
 and the Amount 1t Represented
 London Cabbies Had Good Reason t.
 Fight Shy of the Erratie Genius.
 There was a steady stream of credi tors at the King street studio in thos, days, says a writer in the Century Whistler made no effort to conceal tn, fact that he was deeply in debt. On' uay as we were busily and silently working there came a loud business like rap at the door. Whistler listened attentively.
 "Psstw said be- That's one an( ten"
 Within half an hour there was an other rap, not quite so loud.
 1.-TWO and six," said Whistler "Psstw
 "What ou earth do you meanF asked after a time.
 "One pound ten shillings; two pounds six shillings. Vulgar trades men with their bills, colonel. They want payment. An, wellw he sighed with an exaggerated air of sadness and returned to his canvas.
 Then came another knock, a mos' gentle, insinuating rap.
 Dear me-" said Whistler, "that mus be all of twenty! Poor fellow, really must do something for him! So sorry I'm not in."
 l could not take the situation SC placidly and seized eagerly the first opportunity of financial aid that pre- sented itself. A rich American, SO Journing in London, asked me wha, he could purchase and take back witt him in the way of art.
 By all means get a set of Whistler's etchings. Unquestionably he will make for you selection. I'll speak te him." told him, and hurried bach with the good news.
 Whistler was delighted, and for a day worked busily, overhauling and sorting his proofs. The selection was a splendid one and called for a sub stantial payment. It was arranged that Whistler should meet the pur chaser at a bank in Queen street the following morning and receive his check.
 Most men under the circumstances would have thought of little else, but by the next morning Whistler had wholly forgotten his engagement. He had begun a new canvas, and was completely absorbed in it. For a while expostuIated in vain.
 "Come, Whistler" said finally, "you have been away from America so long that you don't appreciate the value of time to the traveller, particularly the American traveller. You must not keep the man waiting."
 "Very we'll" said be. laying down his brush, with sigh. "Now we'll go."
 t'Why wew I replied. "I don't want to go," I protested firmly. To tell the truth, I was looking forward with a great deal of comfort to a morning all to myself.
 ooh, but you must" he said calmly. bringing my coat and hat, and present. ly we stood in front of the house sig naling cab.
 One came up readily enough, but. after one scrutinizing look upon the cabby's part drove swiftly by; an other went through the same strange proceedings. l looked quest1oningly at Whistler-this odd circumstance had before we were together but Whistler was calmly signaling. At length cabby took us in.
 Whistler always carried as walk ing stick long, slender wand, sort of mahlstick, nearly three-quarters of his own height. We were no sooner seated than he began poking his stick at the horse. The animal reared plunged wildly and started down the street at breakneck gallop, while the astonished cabby swore freely and tugged desperately at the reins. Whistler looked calmly ahead and kept poking.
 Butcher boys and grocer boys made wild leaps for safety; outraged cabbies whipped their horses out of the way just in time; burly draymen bawled curses after us, and still we went on. Little wonder, thought l., in the midst of my amazement and that Whistler never gets the same cab twice.
 Suddenly he began waving his cane and shouting "Whoav' He took the cabby severely to task for driving so fast upon the public high way and ordered him back to a corner we had just passed.
 Here a greengrOcerS shop, with its orderly and colorful array of fruits and vegetables, had caught Whistler's eye as we whirled by. He surveyed it critically now from two different po- the cabby merely obeying his orders, under the belief, I presume, that it was policy to humor lunatic.
 "Isn't it beautifully exclaimed Whis- ter. He pointed his long cane at one corner "I believe I'll have that crate of oranges moved over there-against that background of green. Yes, that's better" he added cOntentedly.
 We drove on to the bank, where we found the American pacing up and down in no pleasant frame of mind; but Whistler soon had him pacified, and we left him waving and smili1e adieus at us.
 The incident at the greengrOcer's shop reads like an arrant affectaticn. It was not. however. Whistler, as usual. was merely most natural. The following morning he posted his easel at the corner and painted the shop that