I thought it discourteous in the artists of the new Impressionist school, to sneer a little at Bierstadt's great paintings, as if he could ever be set back as a bye-gone or a has-been.

And it gave me great pleasure to say so.

I sent several letters to him, and one day I received a card asking me to call at his studio to look over some sketches.

He said he wanted me to help him to select a sketch out of quite a pile on the table, as he wished to make a painting of one for a friend.

I assured him I did not know enough to do that, but he insisted he was so busy that I must tell him which I thought would be most effective.