The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13

from every possible angle. Sometimes, if he couldn't get 1t placed to suit him, he would throw it out of the room altogetn- CT. although he was. it is said, very care ful in his selection of art objects and usu- ally satisfied himself of their fitness for the places where he desired to put them before purchasing them.
 This work, which would be not only tiresome and monotonous. but actually 6 source of exasperation to most people, was a real pleasure to MT. Elxins. 1t was a rest for him.
 He enjoyed doing it after returning from his office work. Or, if he did not arrange and rearrange statuary or sit in his gall lery after his return from his dayy's ia bor. he would while away an hour or more twiddling a little piece of iridescent glass or a small Oriental trinket in his hand.
 Even in his office hours he would. 1t is said. receive a man with bit of shining glass or an attractive piece of pottery, while financier, with propositions in- volving thousands of dollars to submit, would be kept waiting outside, His interest in art is illustrated by an incident which a dealer in this city says occurred at the WaIdorf-Astoria one morning when MT. Elkins was stopping there. Mir. Ellkins was eating breakfast with three of the best known financiers m this city. He had made an appoint ment with them to talk oyer some bus mess propositions.
 The dealer did not know that Mir. FL hins was at breakfast, but was sure that he had something which would interest him. He sent in his card. MT. Elkins left his breakfast and the financlers to come out and talk with the dealer. He was interested in what the dealer had to tell him. He apparently forgot all about breakfast and the party that he had left inside. for when waiter came out into the corridor to discover what had hap pened to Mir. Elkins he gave a quick "Oh, that's sol" and hurled away to apologize. Genuine Love for Art. A well known amateur in this city. who knew Mir. Ellins personally. says of him MT. Elkins had a genuine inclination | for art and beautiful things He was not at all affected in his love for the fine arts He was not the kind of man to assume af. fectation in anything. He was mar who had come into position where he could acquire works of art. and the d1ins of 1t afforded him a most delightful diver. aion
 "That is, in large measure, undoubtedly true of a good many of our great busi. ness men. To acquire and handle pieces of art seems to afford them a great re. | lief. In fact, it is our great business men more than any other class who are the leading patrons of art in this country and who do more in this city to encour- age art thSn any others.
 Some of them, it is true, do so merely because they find in collecting a pleasant diversion from business problems. but MT. Elkins, I do not hesitate to say was in- fiueneed in all his collecting entirely by a genuine love for the fine arts. Most of his colecticus were made in eonJunction with Mir. Widener, his bust. ] ness partner. and Mir. Johnson, his law 1 yer. The collections of these three mer seem to have been made for a definits purpose.
 Generally speaking. they collected fir different schools. and If the coilections are ever combined, as 1t Is hoped they will be some day. they will present very considerable interest as a chronological study of art, although. of course. many masters would probably be repeated.
 There was one thing most conspicuous about MT. Elkins's methods of collecting He never bought in a spirit of rivalry Whenever he saw an object which he liked and which he thought would fullfil the re- quirement for which he wanted it. he acquired 1t as soon as he became con- vinced of its integrity"
 Many Old Paintings.
 The gallery which Mir Elkins left, and which. according to his will is to go ultI- mately to the city of Philadelphia, con