New-York tribune., 1909-12-09
VILLA TO ACADEMY
MRS. HEYLAND'S GIFT.
American Institution Gets Ne,c
Home in Rome.

The American Academy i'm Rome has
received gift of a villa on tho old
a,sreiian Wall valued at Sseoosl. ac-
cording 20 an announcement made YES
ierdsy by George W. Breck. former ai-
rector Of the academy. who returned 20
this country recently 90 resume his pro-
sessional work as a mural painter.
He also announced that friends OF the
late Charles r. NcKim. the architect
who was president of the academy AT
,he time of his death. were planning =
memorial 10 him by raising Sle0ooo as a
contribution 70 the S1.oaooeo endow-
rlent fund which The trustees are try
ing % complete.
The villa Aurelia. which has been
sfven 10 the academy" said Mr.. Rreck.
is situated on the highest point within
.he city limits OF Rome. II stands lust
hack OF and above the Spanish Academy
~ Fine Arts. and is one Of the hand
soonest residential properties in Rome.
when Mrs. Alexander Heyland died
IN September she eft this property 10
her husband. a wealthy retired major in
The British army. 10 be turned over 10
the academy az his death. Major Hev-
land. however. has advised me. through
lis attorney. that he is willing 10 trans
fer the property TO the trustees Of the
academy AZ once A condition Of ac-
oepting this valuable property is that
the academy shall make its home there.
The view from the roof Of the Villa
Aurelia Is incompatible. the whole of
Rome lying al its feet AS your eve
sweeps around you take in the French
Academy. Mont Sorracte, the Roman
Campagna. the Alban Hills, St Peters
rnd Monte Mario. the highest hill near
Rome. Immediately beyond the Villa
Aurelia lies the Villa Pam Phm. the
hsndsomest and best kept up OF the
great villas in or near Rome.
This neighborhood was the scene OF
Garfbsldis attack on Rome when the
French troops under the Pope defended
the villa, The Villa Aurelia was the
headquarters Of GaribaIdi and was rid
died by the cannonading.
Most OF the trustees Of the academy
sre IN favor Of accepting this generous
Fift. II should be said, however, that
fhe Villa Aurelia as IL stands is not well
snd that IL accepted for a future home
viii have 20 be remodelled AT an expense
POSSIBLY OF $4,000
The present home OF the academy IN
The villa Mirahore. the gift OF Henry
Walters, q trustee. Is well adapted to
our purpose. II cost Mr.. Walters $50
oao. and We have spent about $4,000 in
undermining a. Whether We would sell
cur present home and move into the
Villa Aurelia depends upon future action
ty the trustees.
"Of the ten 10000 subscriptions that
sre being raised for the S1.0o0.oco en-
dowment fund those already made have
not been turned in. We are receiving.
however. $4,000 a year on their sub
scriptions from ]. Pierpont Morgan. ".
x. Vanderbilt. Henry Walters. Henry c.
Frick. James Stillman and Colonel Henry
Higginson. for Harvard University. John
T.. Rockefeller promised Sl000e0 on con-
dirion that the whole 81 100000 was
raised within certain time. The time
limit passed, however, and Mr.. Rookie
seller dropped out. II is confidently be-
Ueved by friends Of the movement. new
ertheless, that when 100000 shall have
heen raised Mr.. Rockefeller Will be will
ing 20 subscribe the last 100000. Yale.
Columbia and the Society Of Beaux Arts
lave each promised 10 raise $4,000 for
the endowment fund"
Nj Breck added that the work Of the
students % the academy in the last
wear showed a great advance over pre-
v'ous years. and in the opinion of COM
petent judges was superior 20 that OF
'he French Academy in Rome.