Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1900-02-20

centuries This palace was begun
about the year 1440 for Luca Pitt.
the head OF one of the richest ani
ost powerful political families OF
7 terence.
The building progressed for twenty.
elk years in the slow and substantial
way in which palaces we're then con-
structed. At that time, in 1466. Luca
Pitts political conspiracy failed
against the still more powerful house
Of the Medlci, 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 1919, or 100 years after
Il was begun.
It is a Florentine palace Of that age
Of splendor that Mrs. Gardner IS going
10 bring TO America and set up in Bos.
ton. The magnitude OF the work may
be imagined when IL is considered
that 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
and vastness. All these pieces will
have to be numbered as they are
taken down so that they may be set
up in the same relative position as
they now occupy.
There will be many ship loads OF
the walls and marbles used In the in.
terror decorations Besides this. the
paintings statuary and furnishings
viii have to be packed most carefully
and brought over IN passenger steam
ships in the care OF attendants.
The hall on the ground floor of Mrs
Gardeners palace will be devoted TO
PAINTINGS and statuary. Many Of these
works Of art viii be brought from
Italy, But Mrs. Gardner will also add
now in her Boston home.
TO this collection many choice pieces
The private museum of art she viii
throw open to the public. Her own
private apartments will be on the up
Ter floors.
The location which Mrs. Gardner
las selected FOR this palace and mus.
elm combined Is IN Boston's fashion
able Back Bay district 1t viii front
On the Fens, the park near the Charles
River This win show OFF the classic
proportions OF the building TO 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
aristoorats. She has another mansion
On a large estate in the adjoining sub.
RIB Of Broolline while her country
sumner home Is at Beverly.
Nearly every celebrity that has Wis
ited Boston for over a dozen years
has come under the spell of this fas.
clnating woman and become a figure
at 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 eccentrici
Ties. she startled all grades of Bos
ton society by hiring a box to see
Corbett box.
She started the society woman fad
~ feeling Shadows muscles.
She went to the summer Pop
concerts and drank beer In public.
She borrowed a lion from the Bos
I Ton Zoo and paraded It before tbs
public.
She mopped up the steps of fash
,1nable church on her knees as a pen
nnce during Lent.
II was by doing such things thai
Mrs. Jack" has succeeded In givtns
certain freshness and variety 4
poston society.
To cap the climax OF this long lis
Of achievements needed some greai
deed, great even for Mrs. Gardner
and she has done a.