International studio (21.1903/1904(1904))

T?^7333733'^73^A d/*

There is a magicat quality in the art of this visionary
who has convinced himself, and his spells have a
marveHous power over the minds which are in tune
with his.
FEW OF THE VARIOUS
WHISTLERS I HAVE KNOWN.
BY G. H. BOUGHTON, R.A.
LET me begin with one Whistler—un-
known as such, but suspected—in the very ancient
ftesh which he ciaimed on the brazen murai
memorial that survives him on the time-toned walis
of the old priory church of St. Mary at Goring-on-
Thames. If one is tempted to wonder whether the
very pecuiiar trend of our Whistler's genius was yzzz'
or inherited from some remote ancestor,
the Wanderer should gaze with doubty-added
wonder on the record-breaking case of iongevity
graven on this unblushing brass, to which is added
the futt-length efhgy of the ancient and wondrous
Whistler himself, and his wife, and on a minor
scaie, three sons and Hve daughters—and all
in the picturesque costume of the eariy seven-

teenth Century, beneath which is the startiing
announcement—
Here tyeth Buried the body of Ilugh Whistter
the sonne of Master Jhon Whistter of Goring
who departed this iife the 17 day of Januarie
Anno Domini 1615 being aged 216 yeares.
Now whether there really exists any authentic
evidence of iineal descent of <MZ7* Whistter from the
very ftourishing famity tree of these extraordinary
death-defying Whistlers of Goring I cannot say,
but will teave this tempting question to those
who tove to pursue such possibte afütiations.
Not onty was this Hugh Whistter a marvel of
tongevity, but there is another and costtier monu-
ment on the north watt of this church to a
Mistress Helinor Whistter and Mrs. Margaret
Whistler, " the former of which is a constant
subject of discourse of the parishioners of Goring
to 3/Hy day ! "
If vitality of " constant discourse" on
AVhistlerian matters is no proof of our " Jimmie's "
relationship to these ancient Whistlers, then
what can be ? If others pursue this most interest-
ing trait and it should onty lead to that lovely,



ETCHING
208

BY MATTHEW MARIS