File:Whistler as I knew him (1904) (14596531047).jpg

Identifier: whistlerasiknew00menp (find matches)
Title: Whistler as I knew him
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Menpes, Mortimer, 1855-1938
Subjects: Whistler, James McNeill, 1834-1903
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Smithsonian Libraries

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t? — Menpes, is thisthe sort of life you live in the bush ? When I saw youin your knickerbockers yesterday, I thought you weregoing to be active and give us a touch of bush life.He would continue hurling taunt after taunt at ourheads until he had got us up and dressed and in thedining room. There we would find Whistler dainty,sparkling, — one might almost say gemlike, — andready for a day of incident. I can see him now ashe stood there, that dapper figure no longer in thelong flowing skirts of town, but in a very short jauntyjacket — almost a tomtit scheme, a straw hat cockedcompletely over the right eye, and dancing shoes onhis feet. His hair was well groomed, and he wore apleased smile. He had aroused us probably at sixoclock. By dint of much careful manipulation of thelandlady, breakfast was ready by half-past, and Whis-tler was content. Our meal consisted chiefly of coffee,bacon and eggs, and perhaps fish. Whistler would PORTRAIT STUDIESFrom a dry point by Mortimer Menpes.
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TRAVELS 137 survey the table critically, and then begin an elabo-rate description of how food ought to be cooked. Alengthy lecture was afterwards given on the scientificcutting of bread, Walter and I gazing voraciously thewhile on the rapidly solidifying bacon, and mentallyspeculating on the lowering temperature of the coffee.Whistler was a master of detail: nothing escapedhim: consequently, at these breakfasts there wasmuch for him to do. Neither did he hurry overthings: the putting of a fine edge on the bread knifein itself occupied some time. At length, however, webegan our breakfast, and for a time there was silence.Nothing was said. Suddenly the Master would frown.Our horizon became darkened on the instant. Break-fast no longer had attractions. The world was ablank. The Master was troubled. We no doubt looked our sympathy, and by and byWhistler told us the reason of his preoccupation. Ithad suddenly occurred to him that the landlady some-how was in a way neglecting us. She had no

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