The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-11-28

CITY FOuT hundred. vi >. DdIuty .
lifelong pursuit has been that of
knowledge and she has sought from
the fountain sources the world round.
Even in those early days when she
was belle of Cincinnati, she was not
ed for her originality and early tend
encies were heightened by many
years in Europe and later study in
the Far East She married Alfred
Clifford Barney, the millionaire man.
ufacturer of concrete, and with him
came TO the capital in the early '90s.
A $4,000 VestibuIe.
While the leaving of the unclad
statue practically in the open street
was perhaps the most daring act Of
Mrs, Barney's unique career it is
not the most original and unconyen-
tional. An undoubted leader Of
Washington society, Mrs. Barney con-
tributes to the cut and dried routine
of social life at the capital much
spice and interest. Her dinners and
entertainments resemble fabled feasts
of Oriental legends and the Arabian
Nights. The favored guests to these
Luculluan banquets are driven to the
million dollar studio house designed
by Mrs. Barney herself which Is the
home of this clever woman. They see
a roomy mansion of the Italian Rem
aissance type that gives out little
hint of the beauties inside. Ushered
in the first sight that greets the eye
Is vestibule carved out of sandal
wood which cost $4,000 and which
fills the house perpetually with its
fragrance. The woods of India con-
tributed this. The guests then pass
into a great banquet room walled in
ebony against the blackness of which
stands out priceless tapestries rep
resenting the loves of Daphnis ana
Chloe. The replicas of walls of fall
len Pompeii are in evidence and the
classic myths run riot everywhere,
for this is fairyland.
And Indian Servants.
The house is but a shell to hold
It's furnishings. 1t was designed and
built about them instead of their be-
ing fitted into it. And they were the
result of life's study and the part or
most gifted woman.
In the midst of this richness on a
raised divan covered with crimson
velvet, Mrs. Barney, dressed in a
modified Greek robe of shadow silk,
the secret of the dyeing of which IS
| her own, receives her guests reclin-
| ing as did the noble Roman matrons
of old. When dinner Is served 1t is
! brought in by Indian servants, the
guests likewise reclining about the
room in the style of ancient Rome.
Dame Rumor has 1t that after din
ner Mrs Barney often dances for her
guests some of the weird and serpen-
| tine Oriental dances that she has
also given so successfully in different
costume in her charity theatricals.
Often private theatricals are after
dinner features and always noted art
lists OF voice and instrument are on
hand to entertain the distinguished
gatherings. Invitations to Mrs. Bar
ney's dinners are as sought after as
invitations to the white house, and
diplomats say sub rosa that here is
the home of them all in Washington
where an entertainment that is worth
while may always be expected.
The Mysticism" in Mrs. Barney.
The mysticism in the nature of
Mrs. Barney Is shown even in this,
her social side. But religiously she
is even more interesting. To be sure
Mrs. Barney came originally from
good old Presbyterian stock, but ear
" in life the lack of color in this re-
ligion caused her to leave 1t. While
travelling through Persia some years
ago she met a priest of Bahai, the
modern religion of that country, fol-
lowers of the prophet Bdhai, who
claims for himself divinity and the
right to lead mankind.
Bahaism is what might be called
a civic Christianity. The good In all
religions is indorsed, but man IS
taught by the eastern doctrine tnaJ
he cannot live TO himself that he
must relieve the suffering and sin
of the world and that he must fur
ther the progress of education. Be
sides this rumor sayeth that many old |
world secrets of sorcery and myst- |
cism are taught by the cult. Wheth- .
er the Bahaists saw the advantage .
of American millions or not Is hard .
to says, but certain 1t Is that Mrs. .
Barney was welcomed and taken into
the very innermost secrets of the
fa;+b Cbo uras rnada n nigh priest