Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-24


And this IL strange, for In 1sss Thomas
HfIl. the artist. wrote the story OF the
making Of the painting and his son printed
Il IA pamphlet form for private distrtbu-
don Thirty ecpies Of this interesting lit
lie revelation were struck Off but all but
three were destroyed before any one had
ssen them
Two copies were sent 20 the Stanford
home and the third remained in the pos
session Of Robert r. Hiu. the artists son
And for twenty-five years neither OF the
copies has been out Of these bounds The
artist died two years ago In the Yosemite
valley. his home. The painting IL now
resting In Memorial museum OF Golden
Cato park. San Francisco. where II has
hung a. q Logn for twenty years. The last
Of the pamphlets is now brought to light
b. the artists son
EE0tistis@I Dte2RtiOn.
: The artists story Of his precious work
h . strange tale Of the dominant dictation
OF an sgotistical and proud patron. Il
throws strong light upon the character Of
the late Senator Stanford. II lays bare the
spirit OF this strong-Vinsd. proud leader
Of men. at the zenith OF his carers man
irnbusd with a fierce spirit Of fighters who
made San Francisco in the days Of gold.
Stanford ordered the picture painted IN
ts7B-ths spike having been driven May TO-
1859 at Prumontory, Utah. After Hill had
outlined the picture. placing 200 men. sew
snty being portraits. he called stanford
70 the studio. He tells Of this interesting
AntervieW as follows;
He would dictate with enthusiasm. even
20 severity For instance. I was asking
some questions In regard to Mr.. Durant
Of the Union Pacific. who occupied second
position and WAS so placed beside Mr..
Stanford. both having q hammer I was
informed that Mr.. Durant drove the silver
spike and so placed him In his true posi-
ton. Mr.. stanford objected to the ar
rangsment and remarked In expressive
manner: Nobody hAs hammer but me.
You have given him too prominent place.
L spoke OF Mr.. McCrel1ah. editor OF
The Alta californian. having = place. HIS
eyes flashed at the sound OF the editor ;
name and he said excttediy: Have you
got that man In told him that he was
present. and It would not be well for me
70 isavs him out. being the editor OF a
paper-hs would annihilats me. His an
swsr was, In Just these words: I will
annihilats you II he IL In
After enlightenfng me on the subject
~ OF McCrelHsh--his enmity toward the gov
srnor and the railroad. and the terrible
[nmity he entertained for the road from
the beEinning-hs said: 7 viii think Of
some suitable person for the position. His
brother A B. Stanford. was decided upon,
and I arranged TO place him"
The pamphlet goes on to tell how stan
ford, the governor, upon examining the
painting, ordered his enemies relsgated
I To the background and friends who wers
not even there substituted The artist
described StanfoFds visit TO his studio a.
follows:
"a LOOK OF surprise and satisfaction
seemed 70 come 20 his face At the frs
glance In the direction Of the great can
vas spread cut before him. with It's hun
dreds OF fAces- He comDlinanted me upor
It's execution and realistic effect. and re-
marked that he could almost imagine him
self upon the spot
one Hammer Enough.
''Hs naxt commenced to analy@s its de-
tails and Immediately discovered that
had two men with hammers. Not knowinl
whom TO place in 20 important a position
had not acted upon a former direction
that nobody but himself must have I
hammer
The governor. pointing out Durant
said: 'Y0u must make that Mr.. Stro
bridge
swbsrs shall I place Mr.. Durant?
asked
1t is not important. replied the Cen
trE Pacifie president he Il one OF th'
Uniou Pacific people
II can place him where Mrs. strobridg
stands I ventured.
Yes, he said, and put her by m
side she deserves a first place. for sh
has been in the lead all The way from
Sacramento.
'Drs. Hardness and sHuman wsr
changed Mr.. Towne he ordered taken oui
En.H Hmu-a
such an interest In my work. Being sucl
a prominent railroad man. 1 thought tina
he would give more tone than a stranger
He finally consented to his being place
N the background.
"Fus eye caught the picture OF Nj
Cotton. He said: I don't want that mai
in he had no business there. as he wa
not connected with the road at the time
Whom shall 1 place there l asked 'Ao'
can put Senator Sargent there he said
7 swallowed my bile. FOR what was
but a slave. needing friends, not enemies.
The artist then goes on 70 tell OF Gov
ernor stanford sending friends and rail
road men 70 sit for the picture. many o
whom had not been az the scene Charlie
Crocker was relegated % the background
shortly after he came to view the paintins
What id nonsense is that he Dc
handed when his eve fairly rested upo
the picture. writes the artiaL- Il eNpialne
% him the whole matter. but he was 90
mad a man 20 even give me a civil answei
He was evidently greatly offended, Tor h
left me with malice Ia his eye.
TT was a great shock a. me. He wen
straight % Mr.. stanford. and when I calle
next morning % see the governor I wa
told that he was out
Waitfng In Vafm.
How many consecutive DAYS 7 lodge
IN his ante-room. and the number o. card
I furnished his desk with 1 could not sas
agJ light came out o. the cloud at las
A. noble and kind-hsarted patron sent m
word by some OF his pampered menial
that he did not wish 70 buy any NOR
pictures
And BE- vas that the pride o. one raj
road magnate aroused the ind gnation %
second railroad magnate. thus leaving N