The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-05-10
Wni5tler,5 Portrait Of His Mother
BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON

BY ELMO SCOTT WATSON
HEN the special Mothers day
rrr stamps placed on sale
Nv Gently, there was added another
w chapter to the romantic story of
woman who Is undoubtedly Amer
icas most famous mother For
u the stamps bear the reproduction
ukN A@ Of James Abbott Mcneil Whistler's
MTNI8 famous painting which Is called
40 Arrangement In Gray and Black"
but which Is more familiar to his
o4 u fellow Americans as sWhistler's
RI Portrait of His Mother or more
81 simply STILL THE Mother"
Although Anna Matilda Mcneil
Whistler needs nothing more than
this painting to guarantee her Immortality, vet
the choice OF her portrait for reproduction on
special commemorative stamp issue this year
1.-THE first time, incidentally that such notice has
been taken OF Mothers day. is an additional
honor conferred upon her In all of our history,
only three other women have had that distinc-
fion. They were Pocahontas, the Indian prin-
cess; Isabella, the Spanish queen: and Martha
Washington. wife of first President. But
Anna Matilda Mcneil Whistler Is not the only
one who Is honored In this years Mothers day
stamp. 1t was issued also to commemorate the
one hundredth anniversary of the event which
took place In Lowell, Mass, ON July TO- 1885,
the birth OF the son who was to achieve such
worldwide fame himself and to bring similar
worldwide fame to her by his portrait of her.
- II Is doubtful II any other painting ever put
on canvas Is so well known to SO many people
Reproductions Of 1t, running up into the millions
In numbers, have been printed and these prints
have gone to every corner of the EARTH During
the last year and half, while 1t was In this
country under loan agreement from the French
government 1t was exhibited In IL leading cities
throughout the United States and 1t Is estimated
that during Its trlumphal tour more than 2.000-
600 persons viewed It. Several hundred thou
sands more will have been added to that number
before 1t Is sent back to Paris late this month
(for the agreement with the French government
calls for Its return by June ~ to resume Its
honored place In the Louvre.
For five months Of the time that the painting
was on tour of the country 1t was exhibited
at the Chicago Art institute In connection with
Century of Progress. But among the thou
sands who saw 1t there and who also saw the
replica of Fort Dearborn on the exposition
grounds 1t Is doubtful II one In thousand
realized that there was historical, II not a
cultural link between the orld-famous paint
Ing the highest exemplifcaton of mans skill
In the line OF fine arts, and the crude architec-
ture Of building which had only the very utlli-
tartan purpose of preserving the lives OF Its In
habtants from savage hatred. That link Is the
theme Of this story.
The story has its beginning In Ireland more
than IT'S years ago. In the year 1853 there was
born to an English family named Whistler liv-
ing there a son to whom was given the name
of John. Long before he had reached his MAORI
ty young John Whistler ran away from home
and Joined the British army In TIT he came to
America a soldier In the expedition with
which Gentleman Johnny" Burgoyne intended
to deal crushing blow to the American colo
niles. But the rapier thrusts Of Daniel Morgan
and Benedict Arnold warded Off that blow at
Saratoga, and the end OF the year saw John
Whistler prisoner Of war along with the rest
of Gentleman Johnny's' army. Mark that fact
well, for 1t has a curious aftermath
Before the end of the Revolution, Whistler, as
paroled or exchanged prisoner, was back In
England where he soon afterwards was dis
charged from the army. Then he fell In love
with the daughter OF one of his fathers friends,
eoped with her, came to America second time
and settled at Hagerstown, Md. In 1871 this SOL
der who had the scarlet uniform of Old
England put on the nondescrlpt uniform OF a
lieutenant adjutant in the leves which made up
part OF the army of the new republic. From
that time on he served continuously on the
Northwestern frontier under ST. Clair Wayne
and others who were trying to break the power
OF the savage tribes that were resisting the west
ward push of the American frontersmen.
In 1907 1t was Captain" John Whistler and
In 1903 he was stationed at Detroit The Louisi-
ana Purchase had flung our frontier from the
Mississippi back to the Rocky mountains, but II
we hoped to make good our possession of this
vast empire there must be garrlsons In the heart
OF the Indian country One OF the strategic
places for such garrison was at the foot OF
Lake Michigan at place variously called Chi
cagou, Chicago Chekakou and halfdozen stint
lar spellIngs. So. early In 1903, the inspector
general OF the army stationed at Cumberland
Md, gave orders for the building of post there