Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-26
A Terrible Row.

family!'
A Terrible Row.
AT last, when one day the row had been
terrible, they took the Decamps to the
dealer-expert, who said he would not give
them 800 francs ($100) for 1t. Not only had
the Americans ceased to bite. but the Eng
fish also, without forgetting the rich
French collectors, who have come to fol-
lowing the American market. Great mis-
fortunes draw together those who love
each other. Therefore the now saddened
couple returned with their painting, and
continued to live in great kindness. They
still hope its price will go UP some day.
In this way there are those who hold on
and hang on to great painting, thrilling
themselves with the fluctuations of the
market, marking down their phantom win
nings with a pencil, yet no richer than the
first day when they picked it up for moth
ing.
Such one Is my old friend, the Comte de
M. This aged beau may be seen daily
driving in the Paris Bots behind a pair of
trotters, his white beard and mustaches
futtering in the breeze, his white. waxy
face impressive, bowling here and noddng
there like the old lady-killer he remains at
the ripe age of eighty.
Though not very rich. he has been a col
lectOr, taking a real pleasure in his paint
ingS and book bindings. Years go. when a
young man on one of his wedding trips, he
bought a large Corot for 500. 1t Is in the
great painters middle style, just after his
return from Italy, and represents pond
with an old scow in the foreground trees
in the left background and some hills and
clouds to the right, with a glorious high
sky. He has kept it fifty years. Indeed, he
never dreamed of selling till he quarreled
with his son, young officer, last summer.
The two do not speak. And now the old
count. though most unhappy, swears he will
sell all his pictures, spend the money, and
then sell his stocks and bonds and spend the
hot h &c cIn11 hnT ,,HE p ft,Cr
He can do it if his does not have a
judicial guardian appointed for his father
something he is far too proud to ask for
Thus the Corot is for sale. But it. must
be for a great price. The old mans first
thought was to have dealer expert sit on
it. He sent for the best-known one of the
Rue Lafitte.
1.-The pond, the boat, the trees and sky
are all pure Corot," said the pontff, "but
some student was allowed to touch up the
left foreground and the mountains"
This made the old count very angry. He
sent for the great mans rival.
Too Much Advice.
eft Is Corot at his best" this other af-
firmed
''What is 1t WORTH" asked the old man.
you ought to get $50 900 francs $3.50, 600
for it. think I can sell it for you"
mo, will sell 1t to some rich American"
the count decided Its price is 100000
In a moment of speculative ardor I, the
present writer undertook to sell it for him.
| had a friend, landscape painter of the
Latin Quarter. estimate it.
1T is a splendid Corot," was his judg-
ment. only Corot never painted that
boat, and parts of the sky show the work
of another. 1t is worth 100000 francs ($2O,-
00W."
This upset US both, SO the old gentleman
agreed to have the picture expertized by
the high priest of all Partisan experts.
1T is one of the most glorious Corots
ever SEEM he exclaimed, after making a
short study Of It, ''Do not let it go for less
than 100000 francs t$40OO0)."
The old count, therefore, waivers Week
in, week out, he agitates himself Two
Paris dealers want to buy it at a price
which would give them the lions share of
profit. Others tell him that he ought to set
1t up for auction under the best circum-
stances-the one means of realizing such
masterpieces fullest value
Thus the old count waivers. He is waiting
for the great American collector. but, as he
is eighty years of age, he grows impatient.
STERLING HELLO.