Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-09

This Is the story OF the six wonderful
children. They live in beautiful pal
ace overlooking the Hudson river. In
summer they travel in Europe Their
lives are like those Of fairy princes and
princesses, Never have they known
what It means to have the words you
must" or you must not" spoken to
them.
Their every wish is gratined They
have their own apartments where their
individual tastes and inclinations are
the only laws. They have never been
coerced into study of any kind, and vet
today these six children, the eldest of
whom Is II, the youngest II, have
through their unusual home environ
ment developed into geniuses And
they are six Of the happiest children
In the world. They have never known
moments grief. Added to this they
are beautiful children--just the kind
you would expect to find in q fairy
palace.
These six children live in the villa
Julia" at Eighty-ninth street and Riv-
erside drive They are the sons and
daughters Of Isaac L. Rice, president
of the Holland Submarine Torpedo COM
pany.
Mr. Rice says the marvellous results
attained by his children are due en-
tirely to the guidance of their mother.
Mrs. Rice for whom the Villa Julia
was named, is a beautiful and accom-
plished woman. She is the fairy god
mother in the palace with its Italian
gardens and imposing marble steps
leading to the arched entrance. And
you will almost have to believe in
fairies when you hear what wonders
ere produced within the walls of the
Villa Julia.
The names of the six children are
Muriel, Dorothy, Isaac L., jr., Marion,
Marjorie and Julian. Their ages are
II, 16 Is, ID, ~ and II respectively.
But they don't answer to those names
In the fairy palace. Their names in
the wonderful land in which they live
are Doll, Poll, Tom, Moll, Loll. Julian
is the only one who does not own a
nickname, and he is generally known
as Babe.
The most interesting point about
these children who have had a good
time all their lives is that they are
real geniuses. Mr.. and Mrs. Isaac L.
Rice are the parents of poetess of
II, a sculptor of 16 an inventor of 15,
a sculptor and writer of Ia, musician
of 12 and a budding inventor of IL.
What they do and what they have
done is mere pleasure.
Isaac L. Rice expressed one wish in
the rearing of his children, and this
was that boys and girls alike be suf-
ficently accomplished each in some
line to be able, If necessary, to earn
their own living. Further than that
he left the management of the chill
dren to his wife's hands, appearing only
as a fairy godfather to grant their
every wish, provided 1t had not al
ready been anticipated by their
mother.
Here is an interesting fact for
theorists to put in their argumentative
pipes and smoke:
The wills of the Rice children have
never been crossed; never have they
heard harsh word; never have they
been coerced to do single thing.
Their lives have been one long reign
Of happiness, despite all theories to
the contrary.
Muriel Rice, a rarely beautiful girl
Of II, with the calm, dreamy face of a |
classic muse, has already written more
than two hundred poems, many of
which are now in the hands of the
printer preparatory to appearing in
book form under the title of Poems
Of Girlhood"
Dorothy Rice at 16 has modelled al
head of such strength and character
that art critics have pronounced it a
gem. 1t will be exhibited next fall.
Artists have predicted for this young
girl a brilliant future as a sculptor, |
just as literary critics have phophesied
for Muriel Rice a high place in the
field of poetry.
Marion Rice is also an artist, and
her work in modelling sometimes rivals |
that of her sister Dorothy. Marion,
who is only IA, has decided talent !
for writing, and a satirical criticism of
Pilgrims Progress" written by her to
tease her English instructor has been
passed upon by professors at Columbia |
with the comment that it |
must be the the work of man or
woman of 80 rather than child of IA. |
In the Rice mansion is large studio |
fitted up with everything the heart !
could desire. 1t occupies almost the |