The Washington times., 1908-10-10
.SECKENDORF HOME
STRIPPED AT SALE
Society Women Buy at Auc-
tion BriC-a-brac Own
ed by Countess.

Dressed IN afternoon raimeRt, their
beautiful garments blending for the
last time with the magnificent furnish
ings and tapestries, all OF Washington
society, II seemed, attended the aUc-
tiOneer's sale Of the household effects
Of the Count and Countess Seckendorf
held in Washington today.
The Seckendorf residence on r street,
In Georgetown, was thrOnged not only
BY smartly gowned women who had
on many occasions been guests in
the mansion. but by hundreds Of the
curious. who seized the opportunity 10
gaze unrestrained upon the household
Of a real count and countess. For
many moons Washington society
women have cast longing glances upon
the magnificent furniture and manteIs.
and this longing has at last redounded
TO the benefit Of the countess and the
auctioneer-
estate, the Washington sale brought
goOP figures Many things went for
mere song, but most Of them were bid
IN by the society folk 20 whom price
was no consideration There were
many antique and secondhand dealers
on hand. but nearly everything they
wanted was carried UP 20 a figure Tar
beyond them
Biggest House Sale.
The sale was the biggest house sale
conducted in Washington for many
years. and a thousand persons rOved
over the house TO their hearts delight
taking in all OF the furnishings OF
which they had heard so much. II
was generally believed in Georgetown
that the countess fortune was limit
less, and the curious who hau often
passed and gazed with wonder at the
closed windows never anticipareI the
opportunity of actually passing within
the portals
II. Morgan Hills, millionaire, who has
been fitting up a home in y street next
to that of General Miles, bought the
biggest bin OF the sale. He bid IL
twenty-fOur of the paintings. with their
wondrouS old wrought frame-, many Of
the old Italian vases. the bronze
tenders, chandeliers. and lambrequins.
and obtained possession Of the Begere,
d big gold chair, and the HeppleWhite
upholstered chair. he also obtained
many other pieces. including tapestries
and draperies. a Louis XVI table. and
an old Louis XIV table supported by
Carevd dragons OF hardwood.
Mrs. z. NJ Hatch purchased the big
Louis XIV gold table.
The contents Of the countess boudoir.
the famous pink room, were sought by
every bidder at the sale, and practically
every piece, even 10 the bric-a-brac.
which had been gathered from an over
the world. was knocked down 70 a
woman.
Best in Georgetown.
The home was the most magnificent IN
The house had for years
been a noted one One Of its features
that attracted widespread attention was
the fact that no electric wiring or gas
piping were allowed to enter it. It was
Illuminated throughout by candles of
the most expensive variety. 1t has
Often been said that the candelabra Rad
never been counted, but thousands we're
used nightly in the social fetes-
The sale was conducted by Adam
WCschler, and every piece OF furniture ,
in the house was sold in two days. I
Henry F WOOdaTd the local attorney
Richard BOardnan. Of New
Jersey, the trustee in bankruptcy. bv /
whose direction the sale was held The
,Ount was here early in the week. but 4
he left his interests In the hands OF I
fore the sEse, with Mr. SteeIIman. he I
segregated many pieces and personal I
belongings, some Of them belonging 10 4
he countess. and some Of them which /
be claimed as the property Of others.
Mrs. Justice MCKenna attended the
sale yesterday afternoon, as did the 4
Vice Countess de SiDOur and Mrs Eu-
gene Carusi Many Of the other bidders 4
are noted in social circles. including /
Mrs. H. o. Thompson. Mrs. @. H Car
isle. Mrs. r. D. Mckinney. Admiral /
Watson. MIS- F. p. 3 sands Mrs. II !
:. Given. Major Dapray. Capt J. Van
Ness Phillips. Mrs A. J.. Cline and Mrs
w Stubbleneld, General Smith. and /
Mss T. d. Smith.