The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-14
THE ROSE PAINTINGS
 INC. P. TAFT'S HOME

Long before the presidential bee let its buzzing be heard outside, perhaps intimate family circles. with William Taft, the collection of paintings owned by the family of his brother, Charles F. Taft, and kept here in the Pike street home. was famous. The frames are in accord, each bears not alone tho artist's name, but also the dates of his birth and death. Scattered here and there among them. in cases. are spien- did collections of oddities. A series of crystal glasses of various sorts. grouped in a case, for one. is worthy of prolonged study. Another collection is one of odd watches. Overlooking the whole are two oils of Mir. and Mrs. c. P, Taft. A collection of fans of many sorts rests within their shad- ows well nigh.
 Over on the grand plano a quaint Taft elephant rests.
 But, the eye rambles from this to the paintings. Wonder is a beauty by Daubigny. Over 1t hangs another an old windmill among the trees In Q quiet country side. Then there is q painting showing a crowd of peasants gathered around . newborn babe. too. we believe, is entitled Early Aut- umn." Just a country scene. in the dull autumnal lights, but 8 master piece neverth elesg.
 The eyes rest a while on 6 collection of watches. Then on a heavy, impos- ing mantel, two curious eagles of DOT celain and two candelabra of crystal and of glass are seen.
 You pass into another room. The handsome furniture is covered over here but other cases of fans are ex- posed. Six long windows, heavily cur tained. reach down to the floor. Be- tween them one sees still other splen- did paintings There are some, Turner's here that would make an artist go mad in jealously. Then in case there Is odd pottery of jade effect, or is 1t jade, after all?
 Tn another room one remarks a babe in swathings in the arms of It's peas ant mother. Before this an inlaid table, with edge of brass stands. The sides of this table contain plates of porcelain. Near by is 8 picture by Van Ruysdael, The Water Fall,' 1t is call- ed. It shows the rapids and cascades among dull, dark rocks, then the hills behind and just one lone pine. An other picture is named "Evening Sol itude;" it, too, is by Charles Daubigny There is a charming little forest pool in this. So much for the left wall.
 At the front tall mirror reflects the curious. Some lilies in g vase be- fore 1t sweeten the air. In & corner another painting of an old peasant woman holds attention. A Van Dyck. Paula Adorna." a full length, magni- ficent conception, one of the largest canvases here, has position close by. The ruff collar, the chain of pearls. the heavy robes of black seem more real than of canvas.
 Equally splendid is a bureau chest. hand-carved, with three quaint vases upon it. And again an odd picture, 'Dusk,' in a golden effect, for the set ting sun, attracts. These things are to right of he hall. At the left q queer black case arouses curiosity as to con tents.
 But there are still other beautiful pictures--moTe Turner's, by the way, One picture. The Trout Stream" ar- rests you. some peasants--very small the figures--stand at the edge of the stream. bridge crosses not far dis tant. And again there Is a Daubigny, of lake at the edge of a stream, it's houses reflected in the waters...As a relief here the mantel is deep. rich black, and one finds wares of cur ious Japanese effect upon 1t.
 Two life-size paintings of two French boys, the subject making one think of the Princess in the Tower. but these lads all in white, save for a red and black coat, respectively; this, and, further on, Turner's Europa" "a hazy odd concept of the sea-must be seen. Figures of females in a mist of gold on the sea, the haze a. bove this. make this last pretty and yet decidedly queer.