IS.

J. M'NEILL WHISTLER.

"Reflection: The _compagnon_ of the _petard_ we guillotine. Guineas are
given to the popular companion who prepares his infernal machine for the
distinguished associates in whose friendship he has successfully
speculated."

* * * * *

The following card appeared in _Harper's_ for October:--

"Pursuant to an arrangement made with Mr. J. McNeill Whistler by our
London agents, Messrs. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., the publishers of the
English edition of _Harper's Magazine_, the following letter is
published:--

August 31, 1894.

"'DEAR SIR--Our attention has been called to the attack made upon you by
Mr. du Maurier in the novel "Trilby," which appeared in our magazine. If
we had had any knowledge of personal reference to yourself being
intended, we should not have permitted the publication of such passages
as could be offensive to you. As it is, we have freely made such
reparation as is in our power. We have agreed to stop future sales of
the March number of _Harper's Magazine_,[B] and we undertake that, when
the story appears in the form of a book, the March number shall be so
rewritten as to omit every mention of the offensive character, and that
the illustration which represents the Idle Apprentice shall be excised,
and that the portraits of Joe Sibley in the general scene shall be
altered so as to give no clue to your identity. Moreover, we engage to
print and insert in our magazine for the month of October this letter of
apology addressed to you. Assuring you again of our sincere regret that
you should have sustained the least annoyance in any publication of
ours, we are,

"'Yours respectfully,

HARPER & BROTHERS.

"'J. MCNEILL WHISTLER, ESQ.'"

* * * * *

One of the humors of the controversy was a letter that appeared in the
first number of Harry Furniss's _Lika-Joko_. It was supposed to have
been written by Whistler to express his indignation at having been cut
out of the book. The English as well as the American papers fell into
the trap, and discussed the letter as a genuine expression of Mr.
Whistler's outraged feelings. It was only a joke, however--and is said
to have been the only joke in Mr. Furniss's comic paper. To an
interviewer for _The Westminster Budget_, Mr. Whistler expressed his
surprise that anyone should have been taken in by the parody. "There was
no harm in the appearance of the article," he said,