The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-08-19
WHISTLER TALES.
Some Amusing Peculiarities Of
the Eccentric Artist.
BARRING OUT BILL BEARERS.

Ne Knew the Knock Of Each Collector
and the Amount Il Represented.
London csbbiss Had Good Reason TO
Fight Shy Of the Errstie Genius
There was a 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 he was deeply IN debt. One
Gay as we were busily snd silently
working there came loud business
pke rap At the door. Whistler listened
attentively.
''rsstr' said he That's one aud
ten"
Within half an hour there wss an
other rap, not quite 50 loud.
Two aud six" said whistler.
-rsstr'
What % earth do you mesnr- I
asked after q time
One pound ten shillings; two
pounds six shlllinEs Vulgar trades.
men with their bills, colonel. They
want payment All. WE'LL" be sighed
with an exaggerated air OF sadness
and returned 10 his canvas.
Then came another knock a most
gentle. insinuating rap.
Dear me" said Whistler. that must
he all OF twenty Poor fellow. really
must do something for him. So sorry
I'm not In"
could not take the situation %
plscidly and seized eagerly the srst
opportunity Of financial aid that pre-
scented itself. rich American. so
tourning in London. asked me what
he could purchase and take back with
him In the way OF art.
by all means get set OF Whis1er's
etchings. UnQuestionsbly be viii
make for you q selection. I'll speak 10
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
a splendid one aud called for q sub
stanual payment IL 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 new canvas, and was
completely absorbed In IL For a while
| expostula,ed in vain.
Come, Whistler" said finally, you
have been away from America SO long
that you don't appreciate the value Of
sime to the traveller, particularly the
American Traveller. You must not keep
the man waiting
Very WELL said be, laying down his /
brush, with Il sigh Now we'll 60"
why wef' | replied. Il don't want F.
TO 60" protested firmly To tell the /.
truth. was looking forward with a
great deal Of comfort to a morning all T.
10 myself
oh, but you must" be said calmly, /.
bringing my coat and hat, and present .
ly We stood in front OF the house sig .
mailing a cab.
one came up readily enough, but, /
after Que scrutinizing look upon the /
cabby's part drove swiftly by; an
other went through the same strange /
proceedings looked questioningly al .
Whistler-this odd circumstance had .
happened before We were together .
but Whistler was calmly signaling At .
length a cabby took US in
Whistler always carried as a walk .
ing stick long. slender wand. a sort .
Of a mahlstick. nearly three-quarterS .
OF his own height We We're no sooner 1
seated than be began poking his stick .
at the horse. The animal reared. .
plunged wildly and started down the .
street at breakneck gailOp, while the /
astonished cabby swore freely and /
tugged desperately al 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; bury drsymen bawled /
curses after us. and still We went |
merrily GU Little wonder. thought |.
In the midst OF my amazement and
resentment, that Whistler rever gets
the same cab twice
Suddenly he began waving his cane
and shouting Whoa He took the
astonished cabby severely 70 task for
driving SO fast upon the public high
way and ordered him back to 4 corner
we had just passed
Here greengrocer's shop. with its
orderly and colorful array OF fruits
and vegetables. had caught WhisJler's
eye as We whired by He surveyed it
critically now from two difereu, po-
siuons the cabby merely obeyu@ his
orders. under the belief. / presume,
that il WAS policy 10 bumor % .uuatic
Isn't it beautiful exclaimed Whis
tier He pointed his long cane al one
corner Il believe III have that crate
Of oranges moved over there-a gaiusi
that background OF green Yes that's