The Portland daily press., 1897-03-02


of him, Mr.. Avery says. the heir to the
Hertford title, cousin, also being friend
ly with him. Although OF the father
IN MS .cel1bate life unpleasant things
had been said. the son was held in high
regard and was of exosllent reputs. He
distinguished himself during the conflict
by his ilberality, organizing an anbu-
lance service for tho Thirteent Army
Corps Mt his own expense, as well as one
for thescity OF Paris, and giving money
to the city and distributing food to the
poor of the CITY and vicinity during the
siege. He headed with contribution OF
l0O, 900 francs the subscription for the
relief of those who were driven from
their dwellings, and he was sthe agent
through whose hands the English sub
scriptions for the relief of .the Parisians
Aftersthe war Thiiers, made him a COM
mander of the Legion Of sHonor and
Queen Victoria made him baronst
His father had died and he Edecided to
remove to London tdslive, and take his
fathers collection with him. He housed
1t ut BethnaIE Green. In the far East End
OF London. where an Himmense 4 railroad
station-e.s large as the Grand Central
had been the only place spacious enough
saw 1t for the second time. He was IN
London on theYday II opened and went
out to 1T. In the mo1ern London IL is
theswork OF very nearly day to GET
there, Eso3the travellers say. On tne
opening day the enormous building, with
all it's galleries as well as thea main part
filled with the beautiful and interesting
exhibits, was sight not to be forgotten.
Mr.. Avery says, the ragged. the dirty
East Understanding them women In
torn garments carrying smutty faced
babes-minglsd with The equality, VINO
drove up in their carriages, and men In
jumpers and overalls talked nInong the
artistic exquisites who had come to see
what the great collection was,
They didn't stick 1t overalls there, :"
said Mr.. Avery.
Sir Richard was perm tilted to leave the
collection at Bethnal Green for couple
of years while his horue WAS building.
when it as removed to Manchester square
Mr.. Avery doubts whether any such
cOllection-so various and extensive
has been got together by private 1ndi-
vidual. He says it is 1ot rnarred as are
so many large private oollectinos by lot
of poor examples. While II is still
largely as the Marquis left 1t, Sir Rich-
ard made some additions, and followed
his fathers custom Of bidding freely, bv
outbidding some bold competitors. Mr..
Avery recalled an instance wherein Ter
| burz's "Peace of Munster" which con-
tains portraits Of the perSonases present
ON the occasion of the meeting of the
plenipotentiariss, was up for sale, and
| the British Government sent agents to
| bid on 1t up to a certain sum for the
National Gallery. Sir Richard Wallace
bid above them and eot the painting,
| W hich was sold at sa5, 600 or $50, 600.
When, sfterward, he learned that an
effort had been made to secure 1t for the
British people he presented 1t to the Gov
ernment, and 1t hangs now in the
National Gallery.
Sir Richard threw open his house on
certain days, admission being BY card.
for public inspection Of shis collection.
Proper introduction enabled painters to
there In company with the Spanish
painter, Escosura, who was engaged
during IN absence of the owner in paint
ing pictures of parts of the galleries.
Some good work of Esoosura'a. Mr..
very says, is In the collection. Sir
Richard from timessto time lent some of
his paintings and other objects Of his col
lection for different exhibitions. He also
arranged some other exhibitions of paris
Of his collection. He bought literally at
every Paris Salon. One collection which
he allowed to be exhibited at the London
Panteebnicon, and which was valued at
81, 0s0, 600, was destroyed in the fire that
consumed the building.
Sir Richard was noted for his benevo-
lsnee AS long as he lived he contribut-
ed generously to all public objects In
Paris. In 1879 he gave to the city Of
Paris asshundreds pu Bile drinking foun-
tains, and in 1879 the Wallace Hospital
at NeuilIy.
His only son died some years before
him.
There would seem to be little likSli-
hood that the British people will let the
collection get away from them If the
only condition to be met In order to keep
1T is the furnishing Of q building in
which to house IL.