The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-02

warehouse, which three months later
was burned to the ground, and then.
strangely enough. it turned ont that
elliott had insured his masterpieces"
for the entire sum he had paid for
them, so by curious turn of the wheel
of fortune he was not penny the
loser.
But there have not been half dozen
such cases at Christie's during a cen
fury Of sales.
And. by the way, just inside the su-
perb pillared portico on King street,
st. James, one will see picture OF
the courtly old dandy. Christie himself.
tall and distinguished, in silk knee
breeches, with low shoes and buckles,
blue silk coat and delicate lace rufies,
with full wig and horn spectacles. as
befitted his association with aristo-
cratic cognoscenh
Chesterfield was his patron then. as
he had been DR.. Johnson's. The great
arbiter of elegance, although retired
from public life. was renowned all over
Europe as a connoisseur. and when old
Christie pleaded with him to lend his
aegis to a great sale the stately coach
and six emblazoned with the Chester
field arms would soon be at the door
The rooms were then in Pail Mall
Liveried servants cleared way for
Chesterfield and escorted him to
thronelike seat on a dais, where nod
of commentator might be seen OF
all and have its due effect on the bids.
The French revolution was the i'll
wind that blew fortune toward Chris
ties. In 1892 many fugitives from
France. Italy and Holland made their
way to London and on arrival found
their flight had been so precipitate that
they were actually embarrassed for
ready money. And that meant a sale
of pictures and curios. furniture, jew
els and plate. 1t was in this way that
the British aristocracy became pos
sessed of some of the loveliest works
of art the world holds.
During the London season, from
April to the end Of June, Christ1e's
palatial staircase and salons are
thronged with men and women OF rank
and fashion from half dozen nations.
In 1898 the old place was practically
rebuilt both inside and out. The prin
cipal sales room. lofty and elegant oc-
tagonal apartment, is copy Of one
built In the Adelphi by Adam. And
the auctioneer's rostrum is one he used
over a century and a half ago in the
old rooms. In itself a work of art OF
great value, 1t is superb specimen OF
| Chippendale's own work.
The old Christie family has quite
died out of the house, which at present
is run by men of high social rank anc
vast experience Sales are held three
| or four times a week From the EARL
est days Saturday has been reserved
for great pictures. Viewing the gal
Ieries before sale begins one Will SEE
leading men in statecraft and society
princes and princesses Of royal blood
merchants of great wealth and tntiu
ence and visiting Americans as well al
| agents acting for cultured countrymen
Each sale furnishes some little 70
nance of the art world. Every picture
seems to have history. Here. huns
In a grand light in the big salon, il
the "Family of Darius" which Pau
veronese painted during his GONZALES
cence from an illness in an Italian Wills
and left behind as a graceful token Of
favors and kindnesses received from
his host. More than $6S,000 was pait
for this picture in Christie's rooms one
Saturday afternoon as it hung in tht
midst of other paintings from ancien
country houses and faded palaces o.
many lands
One wonders whether the shades o.
the artists hang about this abode Of
romance. Did George Morland SCI
his little Dancing Dogs" which h'
was glad to paint for $75 in hare
times, find a buyer at $4,000? DID
grim Sir Henry Raeburn hear ]. Pier
pont Morgan bidding $45.675 for tina
charming portrait of his wife in whit
ana brown? Or did starving JOIN
Hoppner, born to grinding poverty Ii
sordid Whitechapel, see pair OF hi
portraits go for $49.935?
These things are part of the romance
of Christie's. w. G. Fitz-Gerald u
New York Tribune