ighteen_
of them, and of the nine accepted only hung two on the line. Had Mr.
Whistler been the possessor of a more even temper and a little more
common sense, he would have had five or six of his works on the line
in the American department, and nearly twice as many on exhibition
than is actually the case. Really, I fail to see what he gained by the
exchange, unless it was a valuable experience. He says I was
embarrassed when I saw him; I fancy he will be embarrassed when he
sees these facts in 'cold type.'"

"_Whistler's Grievance_"

_TO THE EDITOR:_

[Sidenote: _New York Herald._]

Sir--I beg that you will kindly print immediately these, my regrets,
that General Rush Hawkins should have been spurred into unwonted and
unbecoming expression by what I myself read with considerable
bewilderment in the _New York Herald_, October 3, under the head of
"Whistler's Grievance."

I can assure the gallant soldier that I have no grievance.

Had I known that, when--over what takes the place of wine and walnuts
in Holland--I remembered lightly the military methods of the jury, I
was being "interviewed," I should have adopted as serious a tone as
the original farce would admit of; or I might have even refused to be
a party at all to the infliction upon your readers of so old and
threadbare a story as that of the raid upon the works of art in the
American section of the Universal Exhibition.

Your correspondent, I fancy, felt much more warmly, than did I,
wrongs that--who knows?--are doubtless rights in the army; and my
sympathies, I confess, are completely with the General, who did only,
as he complains, his duty in that state of life in which it had
pleased God, and the War Department, to call him, when, according to
order, he signed that naively authoritative note, circular, warrant,
or what not--for he did irretrievably fasten his name to it, whether
with pen or print, thereby hopelessly making the letter his own. Thus
have we responsibility, like greatness, sometimes thrust upon us.

On receipt of the document I came--I saw the commanding officer, who,
until now, I fondly trusted, would ever remember me as pleasantly as I
do himself--and, knowing despatch in all military matters to be of
great importance, I then and there relieved him of the troublesome
etchings, and carried off the painting.

It is a sad shock to me to find that the good General speaks of