New-York tribune., 1911-11-26

THE LIFE OF JAMES MNElLL Wis H
TIER. BY f. r.. and }. fennel' lev lev
! and revised edition. The fltth. Illus
trated svo. pp. Xxx, 449. Philadelphia /:
The j. Il. Lippincott Company
This is an old book. but it makes the
anneal Of a new one. and not simply for
the reason that the authors have rehan-
died the text as il first appeared IN
1905. adding new material. The work Is
freshly attractive because il has so much
vitality. because II Is 80 interesting.
| Authorized TO write II by Whistler him
self. and rich in the impressions OF
long friendship. Mr. and Mrs Pennell
portray him in really revealing man
! ner. Whistler was personality II ever
there was one. a hero Of endless anec-
dotes. and his biogra piers are extraordl-
narily amusing They have made one OF
those books which reproduce themselves
bec4,use they are always readable. This
new single volume edition will. we dare
saw very soon he exhausted and doubt
/ less for its successors still more unpub-
lished data will be found. The Whistler
legend has not yet been written out
What prodigous legend it is And
! with what consummate art did he foster
its growth, Apart from his work, his
genius was histrionic In essence. Life
was a comedy. and he. the central figure
/ in 1t, was also its stage manager He
could not endure to take things as they
came. Always he must add the artistic
touch which enhanced the ordinary af-
fairs of existence and gave them charm.
Naturally he began with himself. Here
| is one Of the countless passages in this
memoir which illustrate the very spirit
OF the man:
If taking infinite pains with his appear
ancc means dandysm then he was a
candy. The very word pleased him, and
/ lie used il often. in American fashion, TO
! eXTrcss perfection or charm or beauty.
! Never was any man more particular about
| his person ai.. his dress. lie was care
! tul Of his hair as a woman. though there
was no need Of the curling tongs with
which he has been reproached; the diff
| Guilty was 10 restrain his curls and keep
them in order. The white lock gave lust
| the right touch. However fashion changed
/ he always wore the mustache and little i'm
porial which other West Point men OF his
generation retained through life. Eren his
/
| they added 10 the humorous or sardonic ex-
| preston of the deep blue eyes from which
! many shrank.
The authors tell us Of the thought he
gave To his clothes, and. indeed, to
everything contributing to case and pro-
| priety in his wonderful mundane role
It was in kind Of srmor that he faced
the world But beneath that armor
there bubbled a spring of fun and mis-
chief The authors have this story Of
n. London life in the I0's. period Of
memorable breakfasts and dinners:
! afternoon when Jimmy was busy putting
things straight: he asked me II | had any
money. | told him | had twelve shillings.
He said that was enough. We went out
together. and he bought three chairs at
two-and -siXpence each and three bottles
Of claret at eiShteenpence each ana three
sticks Of sealing wax Of different colors al
tWOpenCe each. on our return he sealed
the top of each bottle with a different col
ored wax Fle then told me he expected a
| possible buyer 10 dinner and two other
! friends. When We had taken our seats at
the table 1e very SOlemnly told the maid
! 10 20 down and bring up bottle OF wine.
Cne of those with the red seal The maid
| could hardly suppress a grin. but / alone
| 90 fetch a bottle with the blue seal and
with dessert one with the yellow seal
was brought. and all were drunk IN per
| feet innocence and delight He sold his
picture. and said he was sure the sealing
wax mad done it,
1t is for the vast collection that It con-
tains Of just such souvenirs as the fore
going that readers will absorb edition
after edition of this biography. In view
Of its indispensable character 1t is doubly
"A pity that the book should not be shorn
OF certain patent defects The subtly
proprietary tone adopted by the authors
could not perhaps. be disposed Oft is
too perva sive-but il would be easy
sonalties in which they indulge. Surely
no canon of the biographer's art or any
rational conception OF loyalty requires
them to sit in acrimonious judgment
upon persons entering the sacred circle
of which they are so proud to have
! formed a part Whistler was old enough
when they knew him 10 look after his
own visiting list; he does not seem TO
have asked them to traverse il for him
| then, and there is no reason why they
should do so to-day. But If their work
cries aloud for the blue pencil anywhere
IT Is at the very end. In the first edition
the authors felicitously closed their mar
rative at the painters grave. Now they
add this quaint sentimantallty: The
End Of the Life of James Abbott Nc
Neill Whistler. His Name and His Fame
| VIII Live Forever. Joseph Pennell.
Elizabeth Robins Pennell." II would be
impossible TO beat this testimonial.
Bathos could no further go.