The Washington herald., 1909-02-03
WASHINGTON CHAT.
~ THE sPECTAToR.

NOME AGAIN, II MhSi Sfle has StstAotcAcN
The Studio House in Sheridan circle,
and has inaugurated series Of teas. mu-
'sicales. and receptions that especially ap-
peal 10 the artistic element Of society at
the Capital The Studio House by the
way. which IS an exact reproduction Of
q small Venetian palace. and all its art
treasures. Mrs. Barney. following the ex-
ample Of Mrs Jack Gardiner. Of Boston.
has beQueathed al her death 10 the city Of
Washington. and now her friends are.
boiling their brains" 70 word a suitable
tablet 10 commemorate the gift
After twenty years residence here, Mrs
Barney is beginning to be taken seriously
failed to be so considered. is owing TO the
fact that her social ambitions dominated
ther. and her artistic work was looked
upon as the fad Of a rich and iSle woman
I 70 III I'D her time. She has been known.
ltoo. as a specuIator in real estate, and
was one Of the pioneers to build house
In Sheridan circle. which Is now sur
rounded by fashionable residences. This
house is a bit Of old Venice, set down IN
1.-The most fashionable quarter Of the Capt.
tai. and should be approached in To-
imantic gondOla by water. instead CT IN
modern and prosaic automobile II fol-
lows its model slavishly. and the interior
gives the same impression that one feels
In entering the old houses that line the
Venetian canals. The floors are OF red
titles. only partially covered by rugs rich
tapestries. and interesting pictures drape
Ithe. roughly finished walls and the wood
iworb. as well as the furniture, Is en-
iriched BY hand carving. Old missals'
altar pieces, triptyche. bits OF rare tapes
tries and bibelots OF every description are
scattered about. and the whole atrnos-
Iphere is that OF museum rather than a
iprivate house.
The most interesting chamber is, OF
course, Mrs Barnsy's studio, lined with
works from her own brush, which evi-
dence that first and above all its presid-
iug genius is an artist. who. had she not
been born with a gold spoon in her
mouth. would have made q wonderful
reputation for herself. Indeed. she has
& wonderful reputation among those who
know her work. potably in the art circle:
o. Paris. where she Is better known
than she Is a. home, and where she Is
looked upon as one OF the leading women
artists Of the day. as she Is. lacking only
the whip OF necessity TO make her more
productive and spur her on 70 creates
effort The largest canvas IN her studio
Is a portrait OF her daughter. Alice. ThC
has gained some noroTiety as member
ef that little known cult, Bsbblsm. Z
work that places her ii the foremost sanl
OF amateur portrait painters The figure
clothed in a loose white gown, Is seated
in an attitude OF repose and part o.
the face is reflected in the mirror 10 IN,
left. Il is an enchanting study. cleveri,
done, which excites the admiration o
every one who sees Il. and would giv'
her a leading place among professional
If fortune hsd been less kind and sh'
was Of necessity bread winner
, Years ago. when Mrs Barney first cam
, 70 Washington. she passed more time Il
her studio than has been possible in thes
, later years. when she has been occupies
= with society. travel, and building houses
IN fact. there vas hardly yoUmi
woman in society who escaped her brush
and the portraits when finished wer
sold to the fair models or some one in
{ / terested in them, the proceeds Of the sal
being given 20 charity II was then tha
Mrs. Barney made a rather extraOrdinar-
picture OF Harriet Blaine Beale, VIII
vas a handsome girl as she IS a haudsom
woman. with Brilliant coloring and al
tractive figure. and the study Mrs Bar
ney did OF her pleased her friends Al
brought its author fame as vel Z
r shekels for her pet charity
o Mrs Barney's L 81 departure is archi
L. -r-- E-- ~o= 81
with some enthusiasm The plans 70
!. her own house-or houses. rather. for be
: side the studio house she Owls a hand
. some residence in Rhode Island avenue
|. near the homes OF Bellamy Storer an
: clifford Pinchot-vere her own work, an
!. she designed house II r street near by
which IS a model OF style and taste. J
was built for Van Vechten Oloott. Q
New York. and while II was in prOces
Of erection there were many discussion
between the lessor and the lessee. Mr'
: Barney insisting upon maintaining
certain optimistic standard and Mr.. Olcoi
contending for all the modern improve
ments. no matter what the sacrifice {
=. architectural beauty and unity It locke
at one time as though the contract nigh
: be broken because Mrs Barney refused {
e concede space on the 6rawing-room foo
i for a bathroom which Mr. Oico1t "a
s manded. but the difficulty was fnsll
n patched up. the amateur architect carry
r ing the day
z At one OF her recent receptions Mr.
: Barney wore a gown that is stlH bein
: talked about as a marvel Of beauty an
; good taste which It is almost tmpossib
> 10 describe. The under dress was a sin
= pie slip OF white satin. made IN II
p prevailing style. over which was woI
y a tissue mantle not unlike kimona
J. cut. literally covered with silver and II
= descent embroidery. which. in the veI
: dim lights Mrs. Barney effects, shin
. mered and cleaned. making a most 9
fective spot OF brillisncy and color in q
: rather somber rooms, and being especial
- becoming 10 its wearer who IS petite
: figure. wi.b an exquisite complexion, e,
pressive clue eyes. and Titan brown hal
I. which frames piquant and interestir
. face
lt Mrs. Barney is the daughter OF Il
- Colorado millionaire for whom Pike
; Peak was named, whose fortune vi
q made IN mines. whisky, and a pIayhous
be and who was most ambitious that b
l. family should achieve as great success
le n the social as he had IN the busine
= world. He old not take kindly, therefor
; 70 his daughters betr0thal 10 the imp
cunious and unknown Henry Stanley. wi
= afterward became famous as an Africs
= explorer. and while her lover was sbse
in search Of Livingstone. he peTsuad.
her to break the engagement that 81
might accept the addresses OF Alfred Cli
ford Barney, whose chief recommendatiI
vas that ne belonged to an old and di
IN tinguished New York family Stanl
le was hurt and crushed. but he was n
It long in recovering his peace OF mind. al
D. verr shortly consoled himself hH rnarr