The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-07
Pferpont Morgan, John jacob Asfor'
Mrs. william X. Vanderbilt, Mrs.
Ogden GoeIet and other Prominent
MiIionaires Respond to Request OF
Baron RothschiId for Donations.
ny HENRI DUBOIS.

Paris, April 81 have just nearo
some interesting details concerning
the new palace of concerts to be quiz.
in the Champs Elysees chiefly with the
support of well known Americans.
M. Gabriel Astruc. director OF the
eociete Musicale de Paris tells me that
he Is certain the buildings will supply
q long felt want, since Paris, when
has so many other amusement resorts
is lacking In buildings where concerts
may be held.
M. Camille Saint-saens is also keen
Iy interested In the project. The new
a eatre des Champs Elysees is to con.
tain a large hall accommodating 1000
/ persons, q medium sized hall OF
4 thousand and a small one OF about 7oo
iplaces.
The larger hall is to be used for i'm
portant concerts, the other two serv-
ing for concerts which attract smaller
audiences.
Mr.. Pierpont Morgan, who was the
first American to whom the scheme
was mentioned by Baron Henri De
l.Jthschild, Immediately subscribed
bountiful sum and support Is also
promised by Mrs. John Jacob Aston
Mrs. william X. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Og-
den Goelet, Mr.. James Sti1lman ana
others.
Besides the Americans groups have
been formed in France, England, GER
many, Austria and Belgium to form
sort Of international committee of ar
tistic patronage.
Van Dy4cI Pictures.
The question of the pictures OF van
Dyck which are alleged to be In Amer
lea, came up for discussion the otner
day in the italian Chamber ana tne
Under Secretary of state. stated that
the family of Marquis Cattaneo had re-
f.xkf Iva hU
Dyck, but he did not know TO whom
nor aid he know where the pictures
were to be found at the present time,
He said that he had made com
plant to the judicial authorities ana
that they had the intention or prose-
cutting the Cattaneo family ana tnat
steps had been taken to prevent oth-
er works owned by the family from
getting out of the country. He added
that the pictures which have disappear
ed could not be catalogued as they
belonged to private family and not TO
the museum.
A commission has now been appoint
ed to look into the matter and meas
ures have been taken to prevent any
such thing from happening again In
the country and all efforts VIII be
made to erect the re-delivery of the
paintings should they ever be located.
American Ingenuity.
Apropos of the disappeared Van
Dycl's, a Dutch picture restorer has
Just told of an ingenious Americans
method Of smuggling valuable paint
ings out of italy in defiance Of the law,
The American collector who was
staying at Scheveningen. Holland, had
two pictures which he wanted cleaned,
and sent for the restorer. The pictures
appeared to be worthless daubs. but
under the cleaning process the surface
paint came off. revealing old masters
of the Florentine school,
The pictures had been bought at Ma
pies and the buyer had them painted
over by a mediocre artist In order to
deceive the italian customs officials
when taking them out of the country.
BY this ingenious smuggling device he
was able successfully to circumvent
the law against the export Of works
OF ort.
Paris Has Ofncial Barber.
1t Is not generally known that there
is in Paris an official called the on
cial hairdresser and barber. The du-
ties of this functionary are to operate
on the heads and boards of all the
coachmen and other officials attending
funerals whose condition in this re-
spect leaves something to be desired.