The Washington herald., 1912-05-06
ACADEMY MOURNS
LOSS OF MILLET
Memorial to Washington Artist,
Who Went Down on Titanic, Is
Beautiful Tribute.

The trustees OF the American Academy
in Rome have adopted the following
memorial on Francis d. Millet. the
Washington artist. who was lost on the
Titanic:
ssAs one Of the founders OF the Aead-
emy. Francis D. Minet was Identified
with It from its very beginning. and Of
the many undertakings with which he
was connected none was nearer 70 his
heart or received a larger measure OF
his devotion. When In February last,
he accepted the charge OF the academy,
he showed once more the characteristics
which had distinguished his whole life:
his enthusiastic devotion 70 an ideal; his
unselfish disregard. OF himself. and his
intense desire 10 be OF help to others
The spirit which led him to volunteer as
4 drummer boy in the army OF his coun-
try also led him to give up his time and
thought and strength to the founding
and upbuilding of the academy. to the
work Of the art commission in New York
and washington. to the Metropolitan
Museum Of Art. TO the founding Of the
Federation Of Fine Arts, and made him
respond so generously TO every appeal
ObIivtous OF Himself.
.'The unseihshness which made him
forget his own interests in those Of the
academy made him equally oblivious OF
himself whenever and wherever q friend
or q cause could be aided. and the oppor-
tunity which the academy offered him
TO give q brothers hand to young artists.
as he had to countless others Of all sorts
and kinds. Of all degrees and conditions
Of men. was 10 him the irresistible at
traction Of an ONCE which imposed upon
him difficult and onerous task.
Tn all that concerned what he consid-
cred the real thing in life his attitude
was that of the soldier. unhesitatingly
obeying command at whatever cost OF
hazard; but in his daily life the charm
Of a gentle and genial personality. and
an optimism which could not be discour-
aged won him a welcome In every land.
and made a friend OF every acquaintance.
He overcame obstacles by cheerful per-
sistence, and conquered opponents by
captivating them
"'Imbued with an artistic temperament
and endowed with a taste that was both
accurate and sympathetic. he was a care
full student of his art. and, whether ex-
pressed upon canvas OF in mural decora-
ton. Il was always marked with q high
degree Of technical skill and a thorough
knowledge Of his subject AS a writer,
his pen was as facile in drawing q report
Of a committee as In narratipg the incl
dents OF campaign. and as an executive
guided by sound judgment and clear
foresight.
Sincere and Honest.
In all that he said or did there was
sincerity, an absolute intellectual hon
esty, and an intensity of purpose which
he expressed with almost prophetic in
stfnct in one Of his last letters. in which
he wrote: If am In a campaign. night
It through. and the loss OF L life here
and there has nothing TO do with IT To
those who were nearest TO him and his
associates in the academy. his loss can
never be replaced nor its sorrow forgot
ten, but in the memory Of his life 90
nobly lived.
The IiEht he leaves behind him
Lies upon the paths of msn-
Few men enjoyed life so richly as NIL
let: few made SO much of Il. or gave so
much 20 others; few have faced its trials
with such even courage. or brought %
much good cheer and uplift TO other men
and women. and there is no moment Of
his life in which he better deserves to be
remembered than that final awful mo-
ment when he was last seen. standing
on the deck Of the sinking ship. bravely
waving farewell to those whom he had
helped TO save"