The San Francisco call., 1910-11-14

direct f1ll TO uecapllale sothe Noo
prominent rival and on the shoulders Of
the figure to place the head OF man
better favored by the railroad mil
lionaire After years OF procrastina-
tion Stanford died and the picture was
left on Hills hands. He tried TO collect
from Mrs. Stanford. but the obligation
was not considered by the trustees of
the estate.
Tries TO Sell Painting
Now Robert r. Hill is seeking TO
arouse public interest in the picture to
such an extent that the people Will sub
scribe $4,000 TO purchase the picture
from the heirs and present it TO the city
as a reminder Of the historical event
when the Atlantic and Pacific were
linked by railroad.
In beginning his story of the paint
ing Thomas Hill wrote:
About the year 1875 I was invited
by Governor Stanford. through an
agent. TO call on him. as he wished to
see me on business. I took the earliest
opportunity and was cordially received
by Mr. Stanford in his private Office.
He said that he had great desire
10 see 4 grand historical painting Of
the driving OF the last spike connecting
the Union and Central Pacific railroads
and did I think I could paint such
picture with portraits of all the promi
nent characters present on that occa-
sion? After good deal of talk. in
which the whole scene was laid out
graphically before me, even to the
minor details and the naming of most
OF the characters to be represented, II
was agreed that I should paint the
picture under his direction. Mr.. Stan
ford gave me the names OF three gentle
men. who. he assured me. could give
me- in addition 10 his own. all the
information I would need. He named
stephen T. Gage, Black Ryan and Doc
tor Stillman-'
No Agreement on Cost
Hill stated that there was no agree
ment made on the subject of the cost of
the painting, but that the price had
been discussed and he had told Cover
nor Stanford that il would not exceed
5000. The picture was to be feet
by y feet. Then Stanford was Hills
liberal patron" The painter sold
Yosemite picture and a picture of DON
ner lake to the millionaire for Sill 600.
Stanford had had unsatisfactory deal
ings with other artists. Hill says:
About this time Mr.. Stanford had
his suit with the artist. Story.
for statuary, allegorically treated, in
which Mr.. Stanford was represented
coming out Of the clouds on a loco1no-
tive. and in many other godlike at
titudes flgurative OF the life and do
ings Of the governor. I was invited
10 call on him as he wished my judg-
ment on these curious productions.
So in company with DR.. Stillman
obeyed the summons. When asked my
opinion of the works I spoke in praise
Of their execution. but thought-as any
sensible person would that they were
in bad taste. DR.. Stillman advised the
governor. as he afterward told me. not
only TO drop the sculptor but my spike
driving picture"
ORDER IS COUNTERMANDED
A few DAYS later. the narrative runs
Hill met Stanford on the street, and
Stanford. wrote His said he must
countermand the order for the spike
picture. as he feared that his friends
and the public would think him ego
tistical if he had anything to do with
such a work and thought I had better
give il up" Hill was loath TO give
I'D the subject so Stanford he quoted
said TO him, - I think as you do, Mr..
Hill, that the picture ought TO be
painted, so you can have il under
stood that you paint on you're own
responsibility, but when it is completed
see me first These were his exact
words. but the expression on his face
told volumes to encourage me-" added
the painter Thinking that I was
serving my generous patron, I caused
II TO be reported as he wished"
Stanford's desire for pre-eminence in
the picture is well shown by HILL who
consulted frequently with his "gener-
Gus patron" ITO prove still further
that he had not relinquished his inter
7s-so
enthusiasm. even to severity. For in
stance ] was asking some questions in
regard to Durant (of the Union Paci-
fic), who occupied the second position,
so was placed by the side of Stanford
both having hammer. ] was informed
that Durant drove the silver spike. so
placed him in his true position. Stan
ford objected TO the arrangement and
remarked in expressive language No
body has hammer but me; you have
given him too important a place
AT another time I spoke of having
placed McCreliish, editor Of the Alta
California in a good position on the
left OF the picture, apparently in con-
versation with stephen T. Gage. His
eyes flashed ar the sound of the edi-
tors name and said exctedly. Have
you got that man in2 l told him that
] believed he was present on the oc-
casiOn and il would not be well for me
II I should leave him out for being the
editor of paper he would annihilate
me. His answer was in just these
words: I Will annihilate you if he is
in
McCRELLISH CUT OUT
Stanford then enlightened Hill on
the "enmity" McCrellish bore the gov
ernor and the railroad. Stanford's s
brother. A. p. Stanford, was put In
McCreIlish's place Many of his (Stan-
fords) friends not present on the oc-
casion he ordered painted in the group"
wrote Hill. which proved to me that
he was arranging a picture for himself.
and one which he must have known
nobody else would want or buy"
When Stanford first saw the finished
picture he had many compliments for
the artist on the realism of his work.
and also many changes to suggest. OF
these Hill wrote:
He (Stanford) next commenced TO
snalyze its details and Immediately
discovered that I had two men with
hammers. Not knowing whom TO place
in so important a position. 1 had not
acted upon a former direction that
nobody but himself must have ham
lTer.' I asked Mr.. Stanford whom I
should put in the place of Mr.. Durant.
He said, You must make that Mr..
Strowbridge.' Where shall place Mr..