The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1910-08-19

There was Q steady stream Of credi.
tors at the King street studio In those
days. says . writer In the Century.
whistler made no effort TO conceal the
fact that hs was deeply In debt Ono
4ay - We were busily and silently
working there came q loud business
like rap at the door. whistler listened
attentively.
"Psstv' said he. "That's one and
ten"
Within half an hour there was an
other rap. not quite 70 loud.
1.-TWO and SIX" said Whistler.
"Psst!
"What oo earth do you mean" I
asked after q time.
Zone pound ten shillings: two
pounds six shillings. Vulgar trades
men with their bills. colonel. They
want payment Ah, well! he sighed
with an exaggerated air Of sadness
and returned TO his canvas.
Then came another knock. . most
gentle. insinuating rap.
Dear me-" said whistler, shat must
bs all Of twenty! Poor fellow, I really
must do something for hiu3 80 sorry
I'm not In"
I could not take tho situation 90
placidly and seized eagerly the nrst
opportunity Of financial aid that pre-
seutsd itself. A rich American, So
journing In London. asked me what
hs could purchase and take back with
him In the way Of art.
by all means get Get Of Whistler's
etchings. UnQuestonably he viii
make for you . selection. III speak to
him." told. him. and hurried back
with the good news.
whistler was delighted, and for q
day worked busily. overhauling aud
sorting his proofs. The selection was
Q splendid one and called for . sub
stanual payment It was arranged
that whistler should meet the pur.
chaser at Q 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 bis engagement He
had begun q new canvas, and was
completely absorbed In II. For . while
] expostulated In vain.
"Come. whistler" said nnally. ''you
have besn away from America 20 long
that you don't appreciate the value Of
time 70 the traveller. particularly the
American traveller. You must not keep
the man waiting"
every WELL" said he. laying down his
brush, with . sigh. "Now ven Co."
"why wer' I replied. II don't want
b Co." I protested firmly. To tell the
truth. was looking forward with q
great deal Of comfort to q morning all
to myself.
''Oh, but you must" he said calmly.
bringing my coat and hat, and present
iy We stood In front Of the house sig.
mailing Q cab.
One came up readily enough, but.
after one scrutinising look upon the
cabby's part, drove swiftly BY: ap.
other went through the same strange
proceedings. I looked Questioningly at
whistler-this odd circumstance had
happened before We were together
but whistler was calmly signaling. Al
length Q eabby took NJ In.
Whistler always carried ~ . walk
Ing stick q long. slender wand, q sort
Of Q mahlstick. nearly three-quarters
Of hh own height We were no sooner
seated than hs began poking his stick
at the horse. The animal reared,
plunged wildly and started down the
- A~>~k~Anhr -he1A b.
astonished cabby swors 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 ID time: burly draymen bawled
curses after us. and still We went
msrrily ON. Little wonder. thought I.
In the midst Of my amusement and
resentment. that whistler never geta
the same cab twice
Suddenly he began waving his cane
and shouting 'Whoar' He took the
astonishsd cabby severely TO task for
diving 20 fast upon the public high.
WY auO OSOCEex oluI OoSo W y SOS SuCS
We had Just passed.
Here q Ureengrocer'S shop. with its
orderly and colorful array Of fruits
and vegetables, had caught whistler's
eye 20 We whirled BY. He surveyed II
critically now from two different po
sitions. the cabby merely obeying his
orders. under the belief. presume
that It was policy to humor \ lunatic.
"Isn't it beautiful!' exclaimed Whis
tier. he pointed his long cane at one
corner. II believe I'll have that crate
Of oranges moved over there-aSainst
that background Of green Yes. that,
better" be added contentedly.
We drove on to the bank. where W
found tile American pacing up and
down In no pleasant frame Of mind
but whistler soon had him pacided
and We left him waving and smiling
sdieus at us.
The Incident at the greengrocer',
shop reads like an arrant afRectation
II was not. however. whistler. Q,
usual. WIS merely most natural. Th,
following morning he posted his ease
ae the corner and painted the shop tha
pleased Idm.
Sweet. juicy Valencia Oranges a