PARIS, May 14th, 1893.
[DEAR NORA:]
Things are getting more interesting here and I shall
probably have something to write about after all, although I
shall not know the place as I did London. Will Rothenstein
has drawn a picture of me that I like very much and if mother
likes it very, very much she may have it as a loan but she
may not like it. I did not like to take it so I bought
another picture of him, one of Coquelin cadet and now I have
two. Coquelin gave him his first commission when he was
nineteen, two years ago, and then asked him to do two
sketches. After these were done Coquelin told him by letter
that he would give him half what they had agreed upon for the
big picture for the two sketches
and begged the big picture as a gift. So Rothenstein cut the
head and shoulders out of the big one and sent him the arms
and legs. It is the head he cut out that I have. When
Rothenstein and I and Coquelin become famous, that will make a
good story. I have also indulged myself in the purchase of
several of Cherets works of art. They cost three francs
apiece. We have had some delightful lunches at the
Ambassadeurs with Cushing and other artists and last night I
went out into the Grande Monde to a bal masque for charity at
the palace of the Comtesse de la Ferrondeux. It was very
stupid and the men outnumbered the women 30 to 1, which are
interesting odds. To-day we went to Whistler's and sat out in
a garden with high walls about it and drank tea and laughed at
Rothenstein. The last thing he said was at the Ambassadeurs
when one of the students picking up a fork said, "These are
the same sort of forks I have." Rothenstein said "yes, I did
not know you dined here that often." Some one asked him why
he wore his hair long, "To test your manners" he answered. He
is a disciple of Whistler's and Wilde's and said "yes, I
defend them at the risk of their fives." Did I tell you of
his saying "It is much easier to love one's family than to
like them." And when some one said "Did you hear how Mrs. B.
treated Mr. C., (a man he dislikes) he said, "no, but I'm glad
she did." It was lovely at Whistler's and such a contrast to
the other American salon I went to last Sunday. It was so
quiet, and green and pretty and everybody was so unobtrusively
polite.
Rothenstein wore my rosette and made a great sensation
and I was congratulated by Whistler and Abbey and Pennell.
Rothenstein said he was going
to have a doublebreasted waistcoat made with rosettes of
decorations for buttons. Tomorrow Lord Dufferin has asked me
to breakfast at the Embassy. He was at the masked ball last
night and was very nice. He reminds me exactly of Disraeli in
appearance. It is awfully hot here and a Fair for charity has
asked me to put my name in "Gallegher" to have it raffled for.
"Dear" Bonsal arrives here next Sunday, so I am in great
anticipation. I am very well, tell mother, and amused. Lots
of love.
DICK.
