The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-04-02

Enormous Duties - Galleries Are
Thrown Open to the Public.
Mrs. John L. Gardner, of Boston, who
IS Familiarity known as Mrs. Jack, has
done something that will hand her
name down to future generations of art
lovers, at least in and about Boston,
by the erection and opening of her 1tal-
ian palace to the public. She brought
much of the material for this build
ing from Italy, and it was said at nrst
that the only reason she has opened 1t
as q museum for the public, is because
in that manner she was enabled TO
bring her treasures of art and rare
curios free of duty into this country.
Whatever the reason, she has done
a notable thing and furnished much
pleasure to those who visit her home.
Her place is called Fenway Court, and
there is not much about the exterior
to attract the eye except that to find
an Italian palace near Boston is in it
self unusual; but it is the interior that
strikes the visitor with its wonderful
beauty and contrast to the modern
places about it, Inside it is a hollow
square or court, this court extending
to the roof, which is covered with glass.
thus making a covered garden, simu-
lating an Italian one, though in reality
a dollhouse, which can be as cOmfora-
able as an inside room.
In this wonderful garden is a great
deal Of beautiful statuary and many
flowers. For many years Mrs. Gardner
has been collecting rare and beauti.
full things and she has built this place
to be a home for them. Over the en-
trance of the palace is inscribed The
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in
the Fens, MDCCCC." The building is
constructed Of rare old marbles. highly
carved, for which it Is said Mrs. Gard
ner paid fabulous prices to an Italian
nobleman. The lower part of the pal
ace contains the art galleries for the
public, and on the upper floors are
the rooms for Mrs. Gardner and her
encourage. For Mrs. Jack lives quite
like a royal princess, she having album
dant means and no direct heirs.
1t was the intention to import Ital-
ian labOrers to construct the palace.
but the laws Of this country in some
way interfered with that plan, so it
was built by native labor, with Mrs
Gardner herself keeping an. eye on
every detail. 1t is said that she is not
only possessed of a remarkable knoWl-
edge of art and is a connOisseur of
great ability, but she is also an abs
business woman and manages her af-
fairs with what is known as maScu-
treasures is not all on this side of the
water, as she found the tariff prohibi-
tive and declares she will wait until the
laws are modified before moving every
thing.
1t is said that one of the most valu-
able of her pictures is a Titan, for
which she paid $150,000, and on this
she was obliged to pay $4,000 duty. In
the courtyard is a sarcophagus which
is valued at $4,000. There are ancient
shrines, beautiful bits of bas-reIief
and corridors of marble pillars, price
less in value. There is a very charm
ing idea in all this that may not strike
those who have been accustomed to
smile at the eccentricities of Mrs. Jack
and she has certainly done more for
art in unique way than any other
living American woman.
All women who lack decision and
find it difficult to make up their minds
and there are many Of them-ought
to read little story in the April Nc
Clure'S called THE Quick Decision
Board" 1t is the most human, natural
little tale that has appeared in some
time, and hits off with nicely those
women who. when they go shopping,
drive salespeople wild with their
changeableness.
1t concerns Mrs Jack Somebody, who
has small son of only fourteen
months, and a brother from college
spending the Christmas holidays, with
her. Whenever the baby is to go out
she consluts the thermometer and
changes her mind about forty times as
TO whether the nurse shall put on his
white coat or the blue one that is a
shade heavier. The visiting brother
goes nearly Wild listening to the mi
mute directions given to the nurse, and
Vny al1l-e
and so altogether brotherlike that
every woman with a college brother or
son will feel her heart warm toward
him.
Then this fascinating woman-for
she is very lovely in spite of her indie
cision-is asked by. her husband and
brother to go to town with them to
pick out a Christmas gift for some
one, and While she is putting on her
coat and hat, changes her mind fifty
times about going and whether the
baDy ought to go out in her absence.
FINALLY she gets started by her broth
er taking hold of her and making her
run for the car; then they go to a shop
TO look at Somec hairs and she picks
out three and oscfllates between them
ana runs back and tells the salesman
10 send the other one" until finally
her brother quietly tells them to send
all three and let her make up her mind
at home.
Then, when Christmas comes. her
brother takes her up to the nursery
and shows her his present to her that
hangs on the wall and which he calls
the quick decision board" 1t is q
big piece of cardboard marked off into
circles, each one containing a sentence
like, Shall II" mo, decidedly not"
or, Yes, by all MEANS etc, and fas-
tened on 1t is a pointer which one in
doubt can swing round, letting 1t fall
where it will and abiding by It's deci-
sion. OF course, this makes his sister
very wrathy, but it wakens her to the
fact Of how miserable she is making
everyone by not knowing her own mind.
How many women are SO afflicted!
And how ones heart goes out to the
people in the shops when these unde-
cided people go shopping. They pull
everything down, make up their minds
and change them with lightning celer-
1ty, and then, when g thing is sent
hcme, promptly send it back and say
they think they will have the other"
Let women read this little tale and
ponder.
They have recently had q serious
strike of the employees Of the street
railway in Waterbury, Conn, and not