The sun., 1902-03-09

that the little words with additions are
becoming more freuuent In their proper
place, for the auction mart has high place
In the peoples regard and they support II
we'll
That patron OF art, Peter A. B. Widener.
differs from some owners Of great collections
OF paintings in thatlhe spends q great deal
OF time among his treasures. To some men
to possess is enough But that man must
be true lover Of art who really lives among
his paintings and gets good from them
day by day.
Mr.. Widener Is more often to be found
In his art gallery than anywhere else by
those who go out to his home TO see him.
there than at breakfast, even." as one or
Mr. Widener's frequent callers expressed IT,
Abbott II. Thayers absentmindness 10
a perennial source of amusement 10 his
friends and it doesn't appear to bother
him greatly. He spends most Of his time
up the State at his home now, but always
comes down for the exhibitions. whore
he is very busy on the working days before
the opening Even at such times, how
ever, he is forgetful enough TO give the
men a smile at his expense. And what
would be jar to other men does not in
terrupt his preoccupation and absorption
at all.
He wanted to Ak up some OF his work
at one of the exhibitions one day and re-
quired a piece of charcoal. There was
none at hand and Thayer set fire 10 one Of
his brush handles TO make his own charcoal,
being. like many absentminded persons,
resourceful, almost to the degree Of the
woman who utilized doormat for towel.
Then somebody spoke to him and Thayer
started TO talk about a subject that inter-
ested him. His brush handle burne d
along and Thayer shook OF a bit Of the end
from time TO time and talked on. Ex-
hauston Of the wood at length left him no
charcoal-no brush handle either-and he
paused to light another handle and then
resumed his conversation, and followed
the performance he had gone through with
the a rst handle.
The fire got up to his fingers and at last
burnt them Thayer with a jerk dashed
the burning handle to the floor. and vigor-
ously stamped the fire out, SO vigorously
that he was still without charcoal, and
was minus another brush handle. But
he didn't mind It a bit, while the men got
a lot of enjoyment from It. having carefully
refrained from reminding him Of what was
happening all along.
r. W. Dewing met Thayer In the street
one clustering winter day. and Thayers
makeup was so queer and his taste 50 great
that Dewing stopped him 10 ask what was
up. Thayer was on his way to one OF the
Vanderbilt houses, where he had an APP
pointment that was all but due.
His trousers were tied around the ankles
with string, and to Dewing's query as 10
why that was Thayer answered that II was
10 keep him warm, as he always took cold
II his feet got cold
And this remarkable scarf, said Dew
ing. taking hold of a table cover which was
serving Thayer as neckerchief, what
about thisY"
-Oh, yes" said Thayer; you see was
in hurry. i forgot all about the engage
ment until few minutes ago, and when
il occurred 70 me that the time was about
up took this tablecloth from table that
was near me and wrapped up in it
And with his trousers tied like blouses
over his ankles with cotton twine and his
neck and shoulders swathed In table
cover Thayer set out for the Vanderbilts's,
his painting materials under one arm,