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50.                    ART IN THE ARMY.
Huse on Whistler and made an artist of him. So it goes in this world, and the song once again is realized:

Some people know all things;
All people know some things;
But all people do not know all things.

The little knowledge I possess of Whistler is much restricted, and the function attendant upon the unveiling of the Memorial at West Point being delayed from which I had expected to gather much information, I must content myself by simply saying that a gentleman of Detroit, Mich., who has the largest collection of Whistler's works in the world, not even excepting that of the King of England, who as Prince of Wales was a warm friend of the artist, is the one who contributed largely to the honor of the Academy and the memory of his friend by the part taken in this graceful tribute to the memory of J. A. McNeil.*
The following sketch of Whistler has been furnished at the writer's request by Colonel Larned:
[[image]]
You have asked me to write a concise appreciation of that insurgent genius, J. A. McNeil Whistler, which shall undertake to express the leading characteristics of his art and disposition.  Had you not made it a matter of personal friendship I should insist upon my refusal to undertake that for which I am so ill qualified.  Neither by personal contact nor by a fair acquaintance with his work at first hand am I equipped for such an undertaking, which demands more than in any similar case a profound degree of art culture in addition to these primary essentials.  I am not able, even, as are his contemporaries at West Point, to describe the cadet aspect of his many-sided personality, and must, therefore, feel that anything I undertake to put on paper will be quite barren of value from every point of view.  Besides, Whistler defies definition and eludes classification.  Both as a man and artist he is in a category by himself.  His own trademark - the mocking fantastic butterfly which hovers ironically about his signature, or in place of it - is his own defiance to the critic and biographer.  However, if on account of my position as head of that department of the Academy in whose course he was so easily first, 
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*West Point, N. Y., October 26th. - In the presence of a large assemblage of invited guests and officers and ladies of the post, a tablet in memory of J. McNeil Whistler, the artist, was unveiled in the Library Building of the United States Military Academy to-day.  The tablet was a gift of the Copley Society of Boston and a few friends,and was designed by Augustus St. Gaudens.
In a letter to Colonel Scott, Superintendent of the Academy, Holder Abbott, president of the Copley society, said:
"Whistler's training at West Point was to him the most precious possession, and remained an inspiring influence throughout his career. While he eventually devoted his life to the pursuit of the arts of peace, he constantly cherished his early experience at the academy.  With deep respect for his affectionate regard for the principles of West Point, the society believes that no more fitting place could be found in which to erect its modest testimonial.