Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1910-11-04
WHISTLER TALES.
Some Amusing PecuIiarities of
 the Eccentric Artist.
BARRING OUT BILL BEARERS.

Fight Shy of the Erratie Genius. There was steady stream of credi. tors at the King street studio in those days, says a writer in the Century. Whistler made no effort to conceal the fact that he was deeply in debt. Ono 0ay as we were busily and silently working there came a loud business like rap at the door. Whistler IstenAd attendvely.
 "Psstw said he. "That's one and 1 ten"
 l Within half an hour there was an other rap, not quite so loud.
 1.-Two and six," said Whistler. "Psstv
 What on earth do you mean?" asked after a time
 "One pound ten shillings; two pounds six shillings. Vulgar trades men with their bills. colonel They want payment An, well!' he sighed with an exaggerated air of sadness and returned to his canvas. Then came another knock, a most gentle, insinuating rap.
 Dear me-" said Whistler. that must be all of twenty! Poor fellow, I really must do something for him! So sorry I'm not 1n."
 could not take the situation so placidly and seized eagerly the first opportunity of financial aid that pre- sented itself. A rich American. so- journing in London, asked me what he could purchase and take back with him in the way of axt
 By all means get . set sf Whistler's etchings. Unquestdonably he will make for you a selection. I'll speak to him." told him, and hurried back with the good new.
 Whistler was delighted, and for . day worked busily. overhauling and sorting his proofs. The selection was splendid one and called for a sub stantial payment. It was arranged that Whistler should meet the pur- chaser at bank in Queen street tho 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 new canvas, and was completely absorbed in 1t. For a while l expostulated in vain.
 Come. Whistler" said finally, "you have been away from America so long that you don't appreciate the value of ti1,,o fo tho fro ba American traveller. You must not keep the man waiting"
 "Very we'll" said he, laying down his brush, with sigh. Now we'll go."
 "Why we?" l replied. T don't want to go," protested firmly. To tell the truth, I was looking forward with a great deal of comfort to a morning all to myself.
 "Oh, 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. I looked questoningly at Whistler-this odd circumstance had happened before we were together but Whistler was calmly signaling. At length cabby took us in.
 Whistler always carried as a 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 merrily on. Little wonder. thought l. resentment. that Whistler never gets the same cab twice.
 Suddenly he began waving his cane and shouting "Whoa"' He took the astonished 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 q greengrocer's shop. with its orderly and colorful array of fruits and vegetables. had caught Whistler's eye as we whirle<i by. He surveyed 1t critically now from two different po- sitions. the eabby merely obeying his orders. under the belief. presume. that 1t was policy to humor lunatic.
 "Isn't 1t beautiful" exclaimed Whis tier. He pointed his long cane at one corner. "l 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 smiling adieus at us.
 The incident at the gr-engrocer's shop reads like an arrsnt affectation It was not. however. Whistler. as usuoi wao moro,v rnoSf natural Tha