The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-24
HUMPHREY WARD r AMBLES
THROUGH LONDON HOUSE
Authentic Photographs Priceless Pictures Barred From Entry Into
United States BY Uncle SAM The Great American Fnance
Decides to Share His Secret With the World

he has levied not only on tho near, but
farthest horizons Of the art world with
a disregard of expense which had stag
gered a Caius A1aecenas. So lavish, not
to say prodigal has tho outlay been that
until very recently no attempt was made
to arrange the collection coherently. It
has typitied a riot of magnificence-an
embarrassment of riches.
The Famous Cupid.
For example, on entering the house
from the street only the trained eye Is
able to discover not ono or two, but
dozen rarest masters standing or hang
Ing here and there in sl1adowy corners OF
the main hall. Scarcely to be discerned
among them is a priceless Van Dyke rub
bling frames with the famous portrait
of Lady Broughton by Romney. In equal
~ obscure regions of the house are par
t1lall yor totally eclpsed paintings by Rey-
NOTES.-The Babes in the Wood,'' the ecu
pid as Link Boy" the Lady Betty
Define and Children'-the "Godsal Chill
dren," by Hoppner." and the celebrated
portrait Of Lady Gideon by Gainsborough,
itself worth medieval ransom. In an
other part Of the house hangs the adj
mirable painting Of George Ylscount Mall
den and Lady Cape done by Sir Joshua
In 1867 for sS75. Since then the painting
has more than qundrupled itself In value,
and, In fact, could not be purchased to-
day for $4,000 cash. q price which has
been refused.
For the Lady Betty Define, purchased
for 100000. an offer Of Sl25.O0O was recent
~ refused, as has been s125,000 for Ru-
benss Grand Duke which has con-
splcuous place In one Of the upper rear
rooms of the mansion. All told there are
five paintings by Reynolds. tho one most
tl<F tr,1 1,nfn Hlnt tn
I Wood,' painted In ITO for Viscount Pal
!, merston, for trine Of fifty gulnens. or
| less than the duty demanded by Uncle
| Sam to-day.
| Cardinal Mazarin's Tapestries.
! or the four Romneys In the house. the
one of Mrs. Glyn and Of Lady Ham
| ilton Reading a Paper" as we'll as a
< third showing tho beautiful adventures
I holding medal or miniature in both
hands, arc valued at $3.50 exclusive OF
another 100000 represented by the mag
1 nncent whole length of Mrs. Scott jack
son, declared generations ago by Sill
George scharf, the great connosseur, tic
be the mellowest and most compelling
picture wrought by Romney.
Ascending the dlmly-lighted staircase
from the main hall and flowing a pal,
I of splendid tapestries en- route--specincns
! or the $1,000 tapestrie which were once
4 tho pride of Cardinal Mazarin-one
reaches the upper hall. which Is fairly
plastered with Greuzes, three very fine
pictures by Patcr. more Gninsbrnught
and several representative paintings i,
Turner. In q room opening on this hal
is tho celebrated Gainsbrough hnlf-lengt1
of the Duchess of pevonshire, which Is
now photographed for the first time since
1t WIS stolen thirty years ago. No trace
Of It was discovered until 100, as con
nolsseurs arc aware, when the I4ondol
art dealer ut whose place the theft oc
Cured, received at q hotel In Chicago