Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-03-14
A FORTUNE FOR A VASE.
$4,000 PAID FOR THE FAMOUS
PEACH BLOW,

NEW YORK, March Ell the ldte III o
Morgan was foolish IN money matters, as
many people seem to think, she was tar
from being the only foolish person in that
respect In New York. No better substan-
tiation Of this assertion could be wanted
than glance at the prices paid at tue
auction now in progress for some oil Ihe
pictures and pieces Of porcelain IN heI
famous collection. People who 90 not
look at ancient china and unique pTlc-a-
brac from an artistic standpoint are a.
most incredulous that what they cohsiuer
merely a pretty little piece OF porcelalh'
and which would be dashed into lhou-
sand fragments by an accidental iali,
sbould no knocked down on the auction
hIock AT the stupendous price OF $4,000
Such was the case, however, the artcIe
being the Peach Blow vase so famous
onong cOuuoisseurs of porcelain ware.
Though the time set for the sale was al
Lernoon. millionaire kings Of Wall street
and a host of other people with an
abundance of cold cash tore themselves
away from the fascinating pursuit OF
mopev-makinR in order to be present.
The scene Of the sale was the gallery or
the American Art Association, A num-
Der of articles had been sold when the
carefully took from its box a vase about
S inches high, OF an extremely graceful
shape. and with a color that might be
ikened to straw berries and cream when
the cream has slightly curdled, and placed
Il on a stand In full view OF the specta-
tors. Any man present could have put
Il in his overcoat pocket without over
loading the receptacle in the slightest. /
On its exposure to the audience in the art /
e
ceived with as much Difference as Pa /
gan would bestow on his iaVorlte idol. Ii /
was made in China at some time /
durlpg the latter half Of the /
seventeenth or the beginning OF
the eighteenth century, and II belonged
10 a Mandarin Prince until Mrs. Morgan
bought it through an American dealer for
Fl5. 900. Almost every body upon hearing
the price at the time Of the purchase
thaught she was crazy. When the auc-
tiOneer felt the temper OF his hearers by
coolly asking for bid there was mo-
ments hesitation, then some one paved
the way by offering i've thousand to start
on. The figure seemed to take away Tor
a moment the breath OF the listeners, but
they quickly regained it and thousand by
the figure leaped upward with
incredible quickness until SIS, 600 marked
the limit, beyond which no one present
could be induced 10 90. 1t was bought
in by the art society, under whose
auspices the sale was conducted.
When the sale OF the collection
began week ago, over 5000
applications Tor tickets Of admission
10 it had been received. This gives
some idea Of the widespread interest in
this remarkable collection, certainly the
largest. most varied and most valuable
eve~ offered at auction in this city. The
sale will occupy about two weeks. No
one imagines that as much money will be |
realized from 1t as Mrs. Morgan spent in
gathering these innumerable treasures, |
but the sale has been so well worked up !
that fairly good prices are pretty sure to
be obtained all through. 1t is sad to think
that this great outlay of money results in
very little, if any, good to the classes of
people who are in need of the benefits
" hich its change of hands should bring.
Nothing has yet been done by the admin
Istrator of Mrs. MOrgan's estate to get
back the money and bonds, amounting
altogether to about a million dollars,
which she bestowed as gifts upon
the minister who became sort
Of private chaplain to her
after her husbands death. 1t was said
some time ago that proceedings for re-
cOyery would be taken, but nothing has
come OF it so far. 1t is doubtful il law
suit would accomplish much any way.
But perhaps il is just as well for the lucky
to have the money as any one
else. He was quite poor when Mrs. Nor
gan took him into favor, and he has since
been able to live in as good style as if he
had been born TO a large fortune. Envi-
Gus people may say heaps Of uncharitable
things, but looking at the matter squarely.
was it not just as well TO give the minis
ter a million or so as to spend it on pic
lures and various objects Of bigotry and
Virtue?'
THE MoROsINI FAMILY.
Giovanni Morosini, il is announced,
Eill soon leave for the Golden Gate in the
hope that the balmy air OF the slope will
be instrumental in restoring the rapidly
falling health OF his wife. Mrs. MorosinI
has never been strong, but her condition.
is said TO be becoming alarmingly serious
In consequence OF continued sorrowlng
over the escapade which closed the pa
rental doors of the household against the
fay0rite daughter. Always devoted to
her children, the eldest daughter was her
1avorite, and to lose her under such cir
cumstances was well nigh death blow.
MorOsini also idOlized the naughty VictO-
ria, but she wounded his pride even more
than she did his heart. Before her esca-
pade it was his ambition TO spend the de-
clining years Of life In mis- native Italy,
where he meant TO purchase a princelv
estate, win rank in the public service and
marry her TO a title. In Wall street they |
say II he goes 10 the Golden Gate he will |
never return to New York. He literally /
hates his Oldest child, and would spurn her /
with contempt even II she gave up her
eoachman husband and begged for par
don Al his feet on her Bonded knees. In |
the meantime Mrs. Schilling, in the hope |
OF acquiring still further fame, has taken |
up her pen and comes TO the front as ro-
manoer in theatrical paper, as well as
appearing in scanty attire behind the |
glare Of the foOtlights. From a literary
standpoint her story is tar from being a |
success. Its plot is Of the threadbare |
class usually found IN cheap, paper-cOv- |
ered literature, and j. clothed in "A success |
sion OF exceedingly commonplace phases. |
Her story opens, ''0n the afternoon OF a |
sultry day 10 June, with scarce a breath /
OF wind 10 stir the atmosphere" etc., and |
then goes on with the two solitary horse /
men scene, in which figure the aristo-
cratic young lady aud tie humble attend.
ant. The denouement can readily be inn
agined. The ruling passion seems 20 be
strong In Mrs. Sehiling's breast, and the
coachman still pursues her.
NEGLECTED PROJECT.
Unless somebody soon puts the project
on it's feet again by organizing a new
company with large capital, the portion
OF the North river tunnel already exca-
waited will be in danger OF material dam.
N L. a. 4 4. "A