Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-21

Found It-Present Owner Would
Now Buy 1t.
After fifteen years Of, almost con
slant inquiry Firman Girard, the emf
nent painter. has at last discovered a
valuable painting wl,r~- disappeared
while en- route to the Chicago Worlds
fair in 1893. says a special cable dis
patch from Paris to the New York
Times
NJ. Girard sent twelve pictures for
exhibition at the fair. but only ten ar
rived there What became of the two
remaining pictures is a mystery. NJ.
Girard intrusted the search to Donald
Harper. an American lawyer in Paris.
Mr.. Harper recently learned that one
of the pictures is now in Syracuse.
N. Y.
Exposed for three years to the winds.
rain and snow in the Montezuma
marshes. to be found by Il lonely
hunter and guide anG as dec
GRAFTON for his cottage -ur years and
finally rescued for the syracuse Mu-
scum of Arts. is the remarkable his
tory of this valuable painting. which
disappeared years ago.
The painting, which is valued at
more than $1,000. is entitled "A Visit
to Florists Conservatory" 1t repre-
sents woman in the conservatory
choosing flowers. with the gardener
near at hand, the conservatory build
ings showing in the background.
Before the Chicago Worlds fair NJ.
Girard consigned under the care Of the
French government twelve paintings
for exhibition at the Chicago fair. AL
though the consignment reached New
York apparently intact, the picture
which has now found It's home in
Syracuse and another one were miss
ing upon its arrival at Chicago.
In the winter of 1896 hunter who
lives in the Montezuma marshes and
acts as a guide to hunters in that re-
gion, while trapping in an unfrequent-
ed part Of that immense swamp near
the point where the tracks Of the New
York Central pass. came upon a soiled
and wrinkled canvas. Taking it home,
he cleaned it as best he could and
hung 1t. upon his wall Several months
later peddler who CHANGED by saw it.
Approaching that it had something
more than an ordinary value, he en-
deavored to dicker for its possession.
His anxiety. however. aroused the
trapper, and he refused to sell.
The hunter thought little more Of
the matter until about five years ago,
when Louis Will. Syracuse manufac-
turer and trustee Of the Syracuse
Museum Of Fine Arts, engaged this
man as guide. Learning that Mr..
Will was a connoisseur, the man men,
toned the canvas. but at the time Mr..
Will thought nothing Of it. Later the
man again approached him on the sub
ject. but without arousing his curiosity.
Later. when he heard Of the circum-
stances surrounding the discovery of
the picture. Mr. Will was sufficiently
interested to see it.
When the trapper exhibited the can
vas, Mr. Will did not realize its true
value, although satisfied that it pos
sessed no ordinary merit. He offered
a moderate sum and became its owner.
Upon his return home he asked DR..
George f. Comfort, director of the
museum, to look at it. The instant
DR.. Comfort saw the canvas he recog-
nized the peculiar style Of the noted
Frenchman and felt sure that the sig
nature it bore was genuine.
aNIr. Will had the canvas cleaned and
hung in his library. He commissioned
DR.. Comfort to ascertain how it came
to be lost in that out Of the way cor
ner of the earth. Dr. Comfort got into
communication with the artist. and a
voluminous correspondence has result
ed. He found that the French govern
ment and the painter had been con-
Quoting an energetic search for the
painting, although NJ Girard had been
compensated for it's value by an 1nsur-
ance company.
Desiring to retain the painting, Mr..
Will has since been in correspondence
with the French consul in New York
and Donald Harper an American law
yer in Paris. who represents Nj. Girard,
in an effort to determine its exact title,
so that he may safely make the pur-
chase.