New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-16

a good MANY stories Of Mrs. Lyne-Stepnens
have found their way 20 America but at the
risk OF repeating some Of them | must intro
duce my remarks about her collection with
some remarks about herself She died iast
year at an advanced age, leaving almost 'he
whole Of her very large fortune-sohe'hihs
like a million sterling-to one OF several SONS
of a general officer who many years ago had
been her friend and her husbands rive anu
forty years ago she was one of the best-Kho"h
women in Europe. for she was Milo. puVerhdS'
the dancer the rival Of Ccrito and IaSlohi'
There is a story that one day an oihcious iriehu
went to old Mr.. Lyne-Stephens. the wealthy
Norwich banker. and. with q serious expression
on his countenance announced himself as 'ne
bearer Of bad news What is the matter?
grufly asked the old man. and when the III
truder hesitated somewhat rudely babe MIN
finish the business that he had undertaken
"Sir. am deeply grieved to inform you that
Your son has engaged himself to marry Nile.
Duvernay" Il didn't think the rascal hau
such GOOD taste" was the old mans reply
land # he throws her over I'll cut him on Win
n shilling and marry her myself" But the
Young man did not throw her over; they mar
ried, and lived in afIluence, sometimes In far'
sometimes at Roehampton, near London an"
sometimes at their country place, Lynford Han
Norfolk Both husband and wife were Peopi'
Of taste and forty years ago II was sui pos
sible to buy old French furniture at reasohaoie
prices and even to become the possessor
of a Vatican a garniture oil 'eNIes
without counting ruin. the result VI
many years of collecting was the ineV'ao'e
auction though. by the way. it is said that there
would have been no talk of an auction had II
not been for Sir William HarcOurts dea'h-
duties. do not guarantee the truth OF the re-
port but il has been stated, ana not contra
dicted that Mrs. Lyne-Stephens had lett he'
pictures and much OF her furniture TO the Ma
tional Gallery and the South kensihg'oh Mu-
SCUM but that she altered her will in an excess
of the anger which last year infiamed the breast
Of many a landowner and millionaire. Anyhow
the word went round that there were wonder
FIJI things to he seen at Christies; for many days
the rooms were crowded with the rich who cam,
10 give commissions. the dealers who are AWAY
on the spot to take them. and the fashionaD.'
people who came to see and he seen. In p'in'
If fact the collection was not by any means fault
less. II was not even. If We are - judge DE
hich standard. quite frst-rate. There We're. 90
ronrsc beautiful things in il, and rare thlHti'
and things which are just now very nuch III o.
mand: but the Dutch pictures were mostly "'
fbo second order much of the furniture had Oeell
renovated and even regilt and Il good deaI 81 II
WIS modern though very fine OF lis klhu' i'"'
the BUYERS rocked nothing OF these Things Ih'N
paid nearly $4,000 for portrait by Natnr''
very decorative portrait painter OF me niuu.v -.
the last century. and one very iuii oi ln' i'''
az Louis XIV whose court ladies ne painter go
often but by no possible extension oi the teIi'.
a great artist. Nor was Nine l-nrun a ~ a.
artist and vet an Unidentified Portrait OF
LADY," by her sold for nearly t3NVD. IL - III
fact however. that the very wealthy puhi.
which buys AZ a sale IKE ms when l'"'S LOU.
XVI furniture and SeNres china. Goes h1' a."
that an artist should be great. and Il ne - tIrhi
is very likely not 10 appreciate MN Nha'
h,,,s Is the Decorative the cXqu.siely pretty, ihr
ielicately finished in furniture. ana III picture
that which pleases the senses without TOO HuC"
taxing the mind Hence the craze Tor hl"'
tables with nicely finished metal mounts OF l"i
such S6vres as the three vases OF turquoise ni"''
ratnted with subjects by NORM. for when baron
Schroeder paid 1000 guineas hence, above an
the unheard-of prices TO- the frcnch p1rtd4'9,
showing an eXtrdordlhlf! rise III 'Ha' N'''' "
The other sale that of the possessions of the
late Lord Clifden. had many points In common
but from the point of view OF the fnellsh pun
lie IT'S suecial interest lay In It's being h"ld al
comparatively new auction room JUST ~
posite Christie's. in King-st., st. James In,
old historical Williss Rooms. after languishint
many wears in a condition OF sad decay W'i'
not long ago taken over par'i5 by hrin "'
Bond-st. auctioncers and par't by ,h' non.
Algernon BOurke. OF which the latter turned
norton into a restaurant that has alrcady De
come famous while Messrs. Robinson q rish'i
constructed a spacious top story wen nehl'r
and fairly convenient. to which they transierrc"
their auctions For a time II seemed that thcy
never would succeed in obtaining any OF III,
good Collections but all at once ms year I-oIH
clifden's executors placed his pOss 'SslohS !"
their hands and the tickle word rush'd l" So
and Ia buy lust as a fortnight before. II had
rushed TO Christie's Lord Clfden had III
b.rited a good many choice possessions from
Lord Dover including extraordinary mum
bcr Of little pictures by Francesca fuardl 'hh'
,narvollously clever Venetian IMPRESSIONS
Who 40 wears ago. painted the canals ana IN,
goudolas and the palaces with the facln'y anu
The dolicacy Of a Partisan OF to-day j OF 'h'S'
pictures there was eager bidding. as tH'r' M"7
Tor the French furniture the Oriental emma
and many Of the larger pictures, the |eal 81 VIZ
huvcrs eliminating at the very end 81 the saI'
when more than four thousand guincas was
raid for a large work Of iiondccoe, the pu'ch
uainter Of poultry. In an ordinary sai.; OF al
a dealers gallery. half that sum Woulh nav
been thought good sum for such p'c.ui,'
but one never knows what may happen az an
auction especially In days whch vast i"' '"'''
have been rapidly made IN Sputh Alil,"' n'
when every South African WISHES 10 "',U'r
his house after the manner OF th' i."'"9' n''
BEFORE this letter Is printcd-that Is on 7"'ui
dav 15th-wc shall have third great sdIe;
maj of the collection Of English pictures formed
hv tho late Mr. James Price. Of Barcoihps'
In South Devon. He was "A rich man. VIZ
Lnupht largely from Mcssis. Aghew, ana VINO
noesessed six or seven fine Turner's GAINS
horough's lovely "Lcpel, Lady Muigrave' many
GOOD though not supreme sir Joshuas anu
Ro,nnevs and a number OF other cosby P'9-
sessions They will probably sell eXIcmeN
well. NUM- NM