“It is my marvellous privilege, then, to come back, as who should say, while the air is still warm with appreciation, affection, and regret, and to learn in how little I had offended. “The continuing to wear my own hair and eyebrows, after distinguished confrères and eminent persons had long ceased their habit, has, I gather, clearly given pain. This, I see, is much remarked on. It is even found inconsiderate and unseemly in me, as hinting at affectation. “I might beg you, sir, to find a pretty place for this, that I would make my ‘apology,’ containing also promise, in years to come, to lose these outer signs of vexing presumption. “Protesting, with full enjoyment of its unmerited eulogy, against your premature tablet, I ask you again to contradict it, and appeal to your own sense of kind sympathy when I tell you I learn that I have, lurking in London, still ‘a friend’--though for the life of me I cannot remember his name. “And I have, sir, the honor to be “J. MCNEILL WHISTLER.” In the spring of 1903, only a few months before his death, three of his pictures were withdrawn from the annual exhibition of the Society of American Artists in New York. They had not been sent in by him, but loaned by the owner upon the understanding they would be given the prominence which he thought Whistler’s work deserved. In the absence of the owner in Europe the whole matter was left in charge of a member of the society,--a well-known artist,--who, when he saw where the committee had placed the little pictures, promptly withdrew them, and notified the owner of his action, which was approved. Whistler learned of the matter, and wrote the following letter: “DEAR MR. L---- : I have just learned with distress that my canvases have been a trouble and a cause of thought to the gentlemen of the hanging committee. “Pray present to them my compliments and my deep regrets. “I fear also that this is not the first time of simple and good-natured intrusion,--‘looking in,’ as who should say, with beaming fellowship and crass camaraderie upon the highly-finished table and well-seated guests,--to be kindly and swiftly shuffled into some further respectable place, that all be well and hospitality endure. “Promise, then, for me, that I have learned and that this ‘shall not occur again.’ And, above all, do not allow a matter of colossal importance to ever interfere with the afternoon habit of peace and good will and the leaf of the mint so pleasantly associated with this society. “I could not be other than much affected by your warm and immediate demonstration, but I should never forgive myself were the consequences of lasting vexation to your distinguished confrères, and, believe me, dear Mr. L----, very sincerely,