The Washington herald., 1909-08-01

tle ana THIS is WnaI - iSS'iA AN - S~N4''
'Poii-Poll-Po Poly-pretty Poll you are
dead-when you dead-are dead-are dead,
shall stuff you full of-full of stuh-stuH-stuH
you full of diamonds"
the amazed Inspector hurriedly examined the
genial professors dead stock and soon found they
were indeed stuffed full of diamonds!'
The most important where a rich society
woman has attempted to evade the customs was
that of Mrs. John L. Gardner of Boston. In Au
gust 1908, the Department of Justice seized IN
Chicago $4,000 worth of art objects, the property
of Mrs. Gardner, which were smuggled into that
city from Paris as household goods The selz-
ure was said 90 be the largest of undervaIued ar
ticles in the history of the Customs Department
Mrs Gardner was compelled to pay the duty OF
$50 OOO and in addition penalties amounting to
900.
The tapestries bronzes, oil paintings marbles
porcelains and other articles comprising the col
lection were confscated The seized collection
had long been stored in Paris Mrs. Gardner OBJ
jecting matter of principle to pay the duty,
for sne is firmly convinced that the United States
have no moral legal right to collect duty on
works of art and thus stihe the artistic tendencies
of the American people
In the name of
A FRIEND of Mrs. Gardner's was returning home
"A last July, bringing back several large cases of
household goods" which shipped in bond
through to Chicago the ladys sworn declaration
that their value $4,000, together with a state
ment that the goods had been in abroad for
more than a year, were her personal property, and
such entitled to admission without duty Some
thing caused the Customs agents to have one OF the
cases opened, and the first article taken out was
tapestry worth $4,000 Then in place of the
homely pots and pans marbles, porce-
lains oil paintings, and antiques.
The collection quickly traced to Mrs.
Gardner, who calmly admitted the goods
hers Mrs. Gardner permitted to bring in duty
fee, several years ago. for her home in the Back
Bay Fens, place of one of the Doges, a 100000
art collection. The theory that her Venetian
palace known the Isabella Stuart Gardner Mu-
scum, a public museum for the exhibition of
works of art, and art works for exhibition pur-
poses admitted free The government exacted
from Mrs. Gardner bond of 100000 that
would comply with the law.
The authorities found that it was not easy
for the public to gain admittance to the so-called
museum. Mrs. Gardner made charge of 50 SO
for admission tickets and then had open days only
twice month In addition she was rath
exclusive in her idea of what constituted the
general public" and many denied entrance
to the palace, though willing to pay.
When the secretary of the treasury heard of
this he asked Attorney General Knox whether
Mrs Gardners display constituted public exhibit
tion and Mr.. Knox decided that it did. Secretary
Shaw then gave Mrs. Gardner the choice of throw
ing open her house to the public without restric
tions or paying 100000 duty. She at once chose
the latter alternative.
Al out twelve months ago Mrs. H, gay young
widow, who rings every one of her fin
gers, and some say her toes, arrived on
White Star liner. For three years Uncle Sam had
been ungaantly trying to catch her with the
goods" for the customs folk were convinced she
an inveterate smuggler.
They had received tip from one Of their agents