The San Francisco call., 1905-01-22

MADRID. Jan. 21.-It was un-
doubtedly Pierpont Morgan to whom
one of the greatest ladies in Spain
gave rebuff lately. Dona Maria del
Carmen de Arragon Y AZlor, Duchess
of Villahermosa is the owner of per-
haps the finest known example OF TIE
work of Velasquez, and she, as WAS
reported in few lines by cable, has
refused an offer of 100000 for 1t
from some anonymous American MIL
Eonaire.
Il have received innumerable con-
gratulations from Spaniards, as well
as from foreigners" she recently sald,
for nv behavior on this occasion.
Nevertheless. think 1 am not worthy
at all of this praise. l merely dld
what | was obliged to do by the po-
sition in which the heroic feats ana
virtuous lives of my noble ancestors
put me. l am the direct helress OF lhe
dukedom of Villahermosa instituted
by Don Juan ii, King of Arragon, Ma
varre and Sicily, for his son, Don Al
fonso. Furthermore, 1 am Countess
Duchess OF Luna, Countess of Guara
and Countess widow of Guagl Inere-
fore nv manner of proceeding mas 10
conform scrupulously with the giorl-
Gus history of my family.
'Well, among the numerous OBJ
iects and works of art which l inner
tied from my ancestors and now keep
religiously, there are pictures by We
lasouez Murilio and Goya; and one
of these Velasquez pictures In partlc-
ular was not disposed TO SeI: Ac-
cording to the most autnorlLatiVe
opinions this portrait is one of the
best works of the immortal Spanish
painter and is the efflgy OF Don Diego
Corral. inspector of the royal apart
ments at the court of Philip ~. We
lasouez painted it when'he came oack
from Rome in 1881.
THE portrait was extolled so gen
erally that / decided to exhibit 1t at
tbe Prado Museum, during the feasts
celebrated in Madrid Tin connectloll
with King Alfonso's coronation, and l
left If there about a month, during
which time it was admired by many
people. 1t was also exhibited at the
European historical exhiDltlon, To-
gether with other portralts OF my =,
family, and finally was reproduced IN
the Senior Bernete's notable pook'
sVelasouez,' published at Paris IN
1895 and about to be publlshed IN
London.
REMARKABLE COLLECTION.
.Tn Madrid it is generally known
that the saloons of my palace contain
a remarkable collection OF ancient ana
modern pictures, consequently ire
uuently receive requests from potn
Spaniards and foreigners to visit them,
and l grant these requests with very
much pleasure, for think 1t only rignt
to allow everybody to contemplate tne
masterpieces.
Some weeks ago I authorized Two
American gentlemen to visit my artistic
collection, and the day after, one OF
them named Hamilton (if remember
it exactly informed me that he was
ready to pay me $500, 200 Tor the portray
of Diego Corral in the name OF an
American millionaire, who nao sent
him to Spain for the express purpose
of buying it. AS you can imagine, TINS
offer was most tempting; nevertheless
I rejected 1t without hesitation, pe-
cause I felt that / should be unworthy
of my ancestry If sold the master
pieces of velasquez.
Accordingly, / at once forwarded
the following answer to the American
, gentleman: i thank you for your Of
fer, which I esteem highly. Notwitn-
standing I cannot accept 1t. l would
, not sell my Velasquez picture at any
price, having resolved to bequeath IT to
the Prado Museum, in order to be as
sured that the picture will remain in
my beloved Spain forever.
''In spite of this reply, Mr.. Hamilton
repeated his offer, adding that perhaps
he could pay me sum even greater
than 100000, but / held to my decision
and since then have heard nothing
more from him.
II must own. however, that the splen-