"You're a bold man and a philanthropist; but remember, Damien died!"
And he had, just before, among the lepers of Molokai! Rather rough on the claimant of Lemon Yellow!
* * * * *
The Fine Art Society once billed Whistler for incidentals to one of his exhibitions, and thoughtfully included a pair of stockings worn by an attendant named Cox.
"I shall pay for nothing of Cox's," said the artist, indignantly.
"Neither his socks, nor his 'ose, nor anything that is his."
* * * * *
One of his proofs, sold by Sotheby's in 1888—that of an early etching—brought a good price, not on its merits, but for this line by the artist, written on the margin: "Legs not by me, but a fatuous addition by a general practitioner."
The "legs" were by Dr. Seymour Haden, Whistler's eminent brother-in-law.
* * * * *
The eccentric relationship between Whistler and that self-destroyed genius, Oscar Wilde, has been much portrayed. A characteristic meeting was thus described by a correspondent of the London Literary World: