New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-29

Tho fact that Miss Fcldman possessed q painting
which might be OF such value came TO light by acct
dent. Perhaps eight years ago Mrs. klcharu NON
man. OF No. lie West Fortyhird ST.. one OF Inc
warm hearted who labor among the poor OF
the great city came upon Miss feidmnn who hVen
with her aged mother. The women, Mrs. Holman
could see were OF gentle birth ana rehh'u
breeding but exceedingly poor. The daughters Very
education made 1t hard for her TO earn hvehIon'
She could paint ltle had studied some music, ana
had a genewomans smattering Of useful arts but
for the rough work by which the poorest women
mist gain their bread She entirely unified.
Mrs Hoffman. in her effort TO find some employ
ment for Miss Feldman, brought Mrs. Alexander 1.
Van Nest to see her Mrs. Van Nest Is also an earnest
unselish worker among the poor OF the metropolis ana
one who believes 1t her first duty to aid the unor-
tunate 10 help themselves. She became Interested
In the women, and learning to know them better
employed Miss Feldman to instruct her little daueh-
ter Not long aftcrward Mrs Fcdman died and
Miss Feldman fell ILL., being confined TO her bed ana
room for long time
Mrs Hoffman and Mrs Van Nest continued 10 aid
her and when She got we'll sought 10 put her in the
way Of earning little money Only Indifferent sue
cess was theirs, and Miss Fcldman required their
charity from time to time. About year ago Mrs.
Hoffman made one OF her visits TO the woman.
They talked together about Miss Feldmans Affairs.
which seemed In hopelessly bad state and Mrs.
Hoffman asked
is there nothing you can sell!
Il am afraid long ago pawned everything that
we could do without" was the detected reply.
Mrs. Hoffman looked about The Finally she
saw on the wall the bed old picture. 1t was
in dark part OF the room and neither she nor Mrs
Van Nest had noticed 1t particularly before.
whats that" asked the visitor
THAT? Oh, that's a picture Of my great grand
father, by Sir Joshua Rey nolds."
"sr Joshua Reynolds" exclaimed Mrs. Hoffman.
BOD, %
the painting She brought It into the light and saw
that IL was old and undoubtedly Of artistic merit.
Mrs. Van Nest was brought 10 the picture. From
her acquaintance with the undoubted works OF Sir
Joshua she made up her mind that the picture might
be genuine. She kindly had 1t brought to her home
that some OF her artist friends might pass judgment
IT.. +. d. Mille j. Carroll Ecckwth, Elliot Dam
gerfied and others have examined 1t. They agree
that If it is genuine. II Is certainly the work OF
pupil OF Sir joshua The color is especially good.
The two good ladies' were naturally much inter
cstcd in the history OF the picture. Miss Feldman
told them that 1t the portrait Of Colonel Hugh
Duncan Forbes, who fought in the battle OF Culoden
Moor. in 1746. Ills granddaughter married. in the
early part OF this century. Herr Fcldman, an
Austrian OF high social position. whose family was
related 10 several which of prominence in that
country. He had large possessions In the West Indies
ana went with his wife to live them. There the
daughter was born, quarter of u century ago a
family, they taking with them only few pictures,
some plate and Jewels and few Othc: effects. The
father died and wife and daughter came TO the
niicd states Fifteen years ago they arrived in this
city. Piece by piece they pawncd al they had. for
Miss Fcdman Jared only indercntly In her efforts to
support them. Then the mother died and the rest Of
The story the two ladies knew Colonel Forbcss seal
ring old family papers attcsted the truth OF
the statements about him.
None Of Sir JO,huas pictnlrs IS signed. but he kept
n complete list OF them In his journal. lie records the
painting OF two portraits Of the COners elder brother
II Is thought possible that Sir Joshua got the nams
mixed up and that he really painted the Colonies
picture: that Miss Fedman somehow came Into pos
session OF the likeness OF her ancestors elder brother
Her family had always considered the portrait to be
genuine Reynolds.
The weknown Forbescs OF Massachusetts are
descended from the CoCnes branch Of the family and
II + thought that one OF them wish to bny Miss
Fcldman's last belonging There also FOrbeses in
scotland who would be Interested in it, If none who
Is concerned In it through family pride cares 10 bny
Il It may be sent 70 London. where there ar" critics
who could determine It's genuincresS. Should they
hold II for authentic ii would sell for about 81 900
The frame is unqucstlonaby old and Is valuable In
Iteelf