Evening journal., 1900-02-08

centuries This palace was begun
about the year 1440 for Luca Pitt.
the head Of one of the richest and
most powerful political families of
Florence.
The building progressed for twenty
six years in the slow and substantial
way in which palaces were then con-
su1oted At that time, in 1466, Luca
Pitts political conspiracy failed
against the still more powerful house
of the NediCi, and Pitts downfall
caused his unfinished palace to fall
ultimately into the hands of HIS rival.
Building operations we're again be-
gun. but the great structure was not
finished until 1913, or 100 years after
ii was begun.
It IS a Florentine palace of that age
of splendOr that Mrs. Gardner as going
20 bring TO America and set up in Bos-
ton. The magnitude of the work may
be imagined when it is considered
hat it Is made of huge blocks Of stone
weighing over a ton each. They are
chiselled only at the edges so as to
give an increased effect Of ruggedness
AID vastness. AL these pieces will
nave to be numbered as they are
taken down so that they may be set
ln in the same relative position as
they now occupy.
There viii be many ship loads Of
lhe walls and marbles used In the IN
erior decorations. Besides this the
paintings, statuary and furnishings
win have to be packed most carefully
and brought over Ia passenger steam
ships in the care Of attendants.
The hall on the ground floor Of Mrs.
Gardner's palace will be devoted to
paintings and statuary. Many Of these
works OF art will be brought from
Italy But Mrs. Gardner will also add
n,w in her Boston home.
be- this collection many choice pieces
The private museum of art she viii
throw open to the public Her own
ivate apartments win be on the up.
per floors.
The location which Mrs. Gardner
h9s selected for this palace and mus
eam combined Is In Boston's fashion
able Back Bay district II viii front
ON the Fens. the park near the Charles
River. This will show off the classic
proportions Of the building 10 the
greatest advantage.
Mrs. Gardner already has three
splendid homes in Massachusetts. Her
town house is in Beacon street, Bos-
ton. the traditional home Of the Hubs
aristocrats She has another mansion
on a LARGE estate IN the adjoining sub.
orb of Brooklinc, while her country
/ ammer home is at Beverly.
Nearly every celebrity that has Wis
lied Boston for over a dozen years
has come under the spell Of this fas-
chatting woman and become a figure
&C her afternoons
She has received the title Of Mrs.
Leo Hunter. of America" on account
Of her fondness for social lions.
But these were only the milder
phases of Mrs. Gardeners occcntrici-
ties. She startled all grades Of Bos.
ton society by hiring a box to sec
Corbett box.
She started the society woman fad
of feeling Shadows muscles.
She went TO the summer Pop
. concerts and drank beer IN public.
She borrowed a lion from the Bos-
Ton Zoo and paraded it before the
public.
She mOpped up the steps Of O fash
i0nable church on her knees as pen
ance during Lent.
10 was b. doing such things that
/ Mrs. Jack has succeeded in giving
a certain freshness and variety To
/ Boston society.
To cap the climax of this long list
Of achievements needed some great
deed. great even for Mrs. Gardner
and She has done e.