The morning call., 1893-07-23

+ the finest residence structure IN the world,
and had long been used as an art institute.
| Neither OF the buildings was for sale, but
| that made no difference to Andrew Man
derson 1t never did. What he liked
! he purchased. If the owner did not
care to sell. Andrew Marderscn simply
/ doubled or trebled hisotfer. Before such
a purchaser all opposition melted. Even
the University of California, which was
then the legal owner Of the Hopkins man.
sion, could not refuse the offer made for
its purchase. since by the vast sum thus
acquired 1t was enabled to greatly enlarge
its educational work.
And so these valuable properties passed
into the possession of the richest man in
the world. In due time the magnificent
palaces they once contained were RACED to
the ground and the frescOes of Tojetti and
the carvings Of EurOpe's most cele brated
sculptors were broken bits of colored
debris.
In due time also came the residence of
the richest man in the world on the site
where the palaces had been. The whola
city was shocked, even the whole civilized
world stood aghast with amazement when
it saw long. low adobe hut rear its un-
slightly walls where the beautiful palaces
had been.
People were stunned at the mon nstrosity
at first. Then they m0urned the defile-
meut of their beautiful thurougnfare
Afterward they raved little and the
newspapers discussed the question heat
edly. But it all made no difference to
Andrew Manderson. He wanted an adobe
hut to live in and he wanted to live in
that part of the city. twas his whm and,
having the money to pay for it, there was
really no one in all the world to gainsay
him.
1t was very large place he built, and
the rooms we're cOmmO1iOus as well as
numerous. 1t was sanitary building for
such climate, he said, cool i'll summer
and warm in winter. 1t was hideous, the
people aud tho newspapers agreed. And
there the matter dropped Internally it
was furnished and appointed more
gorgeously than the palaces nf the caliphs,
and IN five years time it held all the rare
ana costly art treasures in the world
on being he repository for the antique
and modern works Of the earth.
Inc famed Naulakab of India, the
k0hlno0r diamond, the best pain tings of
az the ola and new masters, the Venus de
MILO Itself. with all the treasures OF Rome,
and Venice, and Florence, aud Milan, and
Paris, and Berlin, and London were
housed within these hideous adobe walls
Andrew Henderson wautad them and he
had the money 10 pay for them, so they
became his without a question.
just On what grounds the citizens Of San
francisco fellcltated themselves that An
drew ManheIson possessed all these treasl
ures are difhcult of appreciate to the
reader Of the thlrtieth century. Perhaps
il was thatin spite of themselves and their
dogmas they still had an innate feeling of
common ownership with the posspssor of
these things. Perhaps ii was-buv really
speculation is futile in case like this.
the fact is that only the few friends and
acQuaintances of Andrew Manderson ever
saw any of these beautiful art treasure.
And his circle OF friends and acauainI-
ances was very limited. Not that Andrew
Henderson was an exclusive man, or tnat
the memb hers of his family were inclined to
be stiff and unfriendly toward those with
whom they came in contact. Indeed. the
records are quite clear on the point that
they were very plain and bospitabl in
clned peOple-the MandersOns But they
we're quiet people, unassuming in their
way and not given to ostentatous displays
or pretentionS entertaining. And so il was
that only the intimatos of the family,
friends Of the two almost grown daughters
ana schoolmates of the four boys, ever
passed within the adobe walls to beh old
the splendors OF the earth.
From the data now obtainable q great
deal might be written of the interior OF
Andrew Manderson adobe home on Mob
H!il. 1t will be interesting. too. to the art
students and di!ettanti. but hardly to the
purpose In this narrative.
AS have said, Andrew MandersOn was
pam and unpretentiOus man. His was
familiar face and figure on Montgomery
ana Market streets and the other business
IN oroughtares. He was always seen
alone, usually on foot. and never seemed
alsincllned to return the salute Of pass
life.
The time [ speak NJ row vas shortlv