The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-25

W66ulUkVOuV u. ~ nay SO.-
Among the employees Of the Coast
and Geudettc survey here in the
year 1854 was an irasciblA impu-
dent, handsome young man named
Whistler. He had been . cadet at
West Point and had been discharged
for his inability to learn chemistry.
In an oral examination he told the
professor that silicon was . gas.
That was the end Of his military
career. A hs said later in life,
IL silicon had been q gas. I should
have been . soldier"
His career In the Coast and Geo.
detic survey was not much more
successful than that In the military
academy. He showed an aptitude
for graphic art, and so was set to
drawing and engraving maps. He
made . plate known ~ Coast Sur
vey No. 1, which IL said to be one
Of the most beautiful that the gov
government employe and . SOL
tunately he could not resist the
temptation to embellish 1t with a
few portraits around the margins,
and this was resented by his su-
periors. Soon Whistler was on: Of
the government service. and o
little later he left the United States
for Paris to study art.
Whistler never returned to Amer
lea in the flesh, but within the last
few months he may be said to have
returned to 1t in the spirit In the
library of congress, Joseph Pennell.
Whistler's official biographer, has
installed his great collection of
Whistler etchings. letters, manu-
scripts and other menentos Of the
man who failed in America as a
government employee and a SOL
der, and went abroad to become
one of the greatest artists of his
generation. And down on the Mall
there has recently been completed
the Freer Gallery, which will con-
tain as its chief treasure the fam
Gus Peacock Room, decorated by
Whistler for a British millionaire.
SO, after an absence Of more than
half a century, and nearly 20 years
after his own death, Whistler may
be said to have returned in tri-
umph to hts native land.
Importance Of Whistler.
Whistler belongs to that small
company Of Americans who have
won the attention Of the whole CIV
ilized world-the company of
Poe and Whitman and Emerson in
literature, Of Grant and Lincoln In
war and government OF them all,
he is perhaps the least known to
Americans in general. This is not
remarkable in view of the fact
that Whistler spent his whole work
ing life in Europe, and that most
Of his paintings are in European
galleries. Most Of his time was
spent in London, and the British
are inclined to claim him az a
British artist. But he was born in
Massachusetts, of old American
stock, and II not educated in Amer
lea, at least the attempt was made
here. Furthermore, he always
thought Of himself as an American,
defended America against all COM
erE with one or the SharpeSt
tongues in Europe. and strangely
enough, looked back upon his days
in West Point with pride. Military
etiquet appealed to him. He
would often criticize conduct with
the words: THAT is not West
Point"
Now that some Of Whistler's best
work has been placed here in Wash
ington where all the honeymoon
ing couples, the rubberneck wagon
parties, the delegates to conven-
tons. will daily file past 1t in the
course Of their conscientious duty
as sightseers, it is probable that his
fame in his native land will grow.
Certainly all that he needs is a
press agent, for he had the kind Of a
personality that lends itself to pop