Putnam patriot., 1921-08-12
From Russia To Pomfre,

From Russia To Pomfret
On landing in America. the travel
ers went to Stonington, where the
Whistlers had lived and formed their
earlier connections when Major Whis-
tier was directing the construction of
the railroad from Stonington to Prov
idenee For her own sake Mrs WINS
tier would have remained there, but
for the sake Of her sons she came 20
Pomfret since here there was good
school. Christ Church Hall, under The
direction Of DR.. Roswell Park. lately
appointed rector TO the Pomfrei
church. DR.. Park. himself. was West
Pointer and an engineer, as was Ma
ior Whistler, and it is probable that
in this way the claims Of the school
was established.
OF this entrance into Pomfret, d
cousin wrote. The two boys had been
brought up like little princes until af
ter their fathers death. which changed
everything. To be sure, extracts
from Mrs. Whistler's dairy while II
st. Petersburg point to some eeono.
mics, but compared with the frugal
expenditure Of American life in those
days. the cost Of living demanded by
their position must have seemed to
her excessive. The family was close
in It's connection with that of the
Gar. and the boys did not lack for ev-
cry opportunity. so that it is not sur
prising il Major Whistler's salary of
So. 600 left no surplus. Certain it is
that. after their return to America,
$500 a year had TO meet their wants.
At Pomfret. as at St Petersburg,
Mrs Whistler busted herself at once
20 make a home for herself and her
children. She could not find or afford
anything more luxurious than part
Of an old farm house. and. in Con
necticut, as in Russia. Winter is Sc
we're. Indeed. James Ccalled in the
diary Jennie. Jamie. Jim. etc.l. who
was delicate, suffered much illness be
cause Of the severity Of the climate in
Russia and during the whole Of the
last year Of the family's residence
there, had to be kept in England with
Deborah. his half sister who had mar
ricd Seymour Haden
The mother felt very keenly the dis
comforts OF the new life for her boys,
but she spared them nothing Of the
discipline to which they We're we'll az
customcd On her first Christmas in
Pomfret she wrote TO her mother that
she had kept them busy all the morn
ing bringing in Wood Ter the fire. and
listing draughty doors. though. as "a
concession 20 the holiday. she allowed
them 20 tighten their task by hanging
up evergreens, and TO sweetcn il With
''Stuart's candy" whatever that may
be Part Of their mornings task AZ
other times was. after snow storm.
to shovel path from the house 70 the
pig pen. and to feed the pig. even II il
sent them back with their hands blue
and cold, and their feet frost bitten.
Old Home Now Catholie Reetory
Here is contrast. indeed TO the
task OF drawing, in which James Me
Neill Whistler delighted from the age
Of four; TO the polished life Of St
Petersburg: to days of abandon in the
Latin Quarter. TO the distinctions Of
later life; balanced as they were by
such harshness and vituperation az he
invited. whether or not he deserved
il. How violent the contrast TO the
winter before. which he had spent in
London with his sister, where he had
had his portrait painted by Boxhali.
commissioned by Major whistler. his
father.
while they were thus hardened
physically they were not allowed to
neglect their studies. Jimmie was
still IAN exeitable spirit with little
perseverance" rs his mother wrote to
her friends in Alexsndrovsky: how
ever. she would not faint. but la.
bour," she said She urged him on