Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-04-23

centuries. This palace was begun
about the year 1440 for Luca Pitti,
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-
structed. At that time, in 1865, Luca
Pitts political conspiracy failed
against the still more powerful house
of the Medici, and Pitts downfall
caused his unfinished palace to fall
ultimately into the hands of his rival.
Building operations were again be-
gun, but the great structure was not
finished until 1549, or 100 years after
II was begun.
1t is Florentine palace of that age
of splendor that Mrs. Gardner is going
to bring to America and set up in Bos-
ton. The magnitude of the work may
be imagined when it is considered
that it is made of huge blocks of stone
weighing over ton each. They are
chiselled only at the edges so as to
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
will have to be packed most carefully
and brought over III passenger steam
ships in the care CT 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
now in her Boston home
to this collection many choice pieces
The private museum of art she will
throw open to the public. Her own
private apartments will be on the UP.
per floors.
The location which Mrs. Gardner
has selected for this palace and mus
cum combined is in Boston's fashion
able Back Bay district. 1t will front
on the Fens, the park near the Charles
River. This will 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
aristocrats. She has another mansion
on large estate in the adjoining sub.
urb of Brookline, while her country
summer home is at Beverly.
Nearly every celebrity that has Wis
tied Boston for over dozen years
has come under the spell of this fas-
cinating 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. Gardner's eccentrici.
ties. She startled all grades of Bos-
ton society by hiring a box to see
Corbett box.
She started the society woman fad
of feeling Sandow's muscles.
She went to the summer "Pop"
concerts and drank beer in public.
She borrowed lion from the Bos.
ton Zoo and paraded it before the
public.
She mopped up the steps of a fash.
lonable church on her knees as pen
ance during Lent.
1t was by doing such things that
Mrs. Jack" has succeeded in giving
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 1t.