davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
JOHrf HAYS H-AnnoNDS
NEW WASHING TON HOfE.

sion which he graced during the four
years that he presided over the Senate
and over social Washington.
This house. which Mr.. Morton bought
In 1889 for a hundred thousand dollars
and upon the enlargement of which he
spent half as much more, has since his
departure been continually in the lime
light; first. as the Russian embassy,
where the Countess Cassini held her bril-
liant court; then as the home of Elihu
Root while he was Secretary of State,
and later as the show house of that Law
ish host. John Hays Hammond, the IA
voritc chum of President Taft.
Mr.. Morton was sixty-fOur when. as
Vice President. he first threw open the
hospitable doors of this mansion in 1889,
and now upon his return to its CHEEKY
atmosphere. he Is a patriarch of eighty
seven. And the brilliant wife. who i'll
that abode dispensed the most lavish hos
pitality which Washington society then
knew is still at his side. But it was not
during the years of her husbands vice
presidency that Mrs. Morton had her
first experience with official society. Be
fore becoming Harrison's running mate
he had served in Congress and spent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03
HE WM. W. L LAWRENCE MANs1oN

country house of the EliZabethan period,
and it's walls are of large tapestry brick.
while the great rooms inside are of caen
stone The doors are hand-carVed. ward
robes are built into the bed chambers
and in Mr.. Lawrence's own suite of
apartments is even a pressing room for
his valet. One OF the magnificent apart
ments down stairs is said to have cost
$4,000, the value of three houses such
as well-to do family would be glad to
live in. From his handsomely tiled win
ter porch, where wood fire burns be-
meath a handsomely carved mantelpiece,
Mr.. Lawrence may gaze upon the beauties
of Rock Creek valley through glass in
closure. which may be taken out in sum
mer to admit the air from that leafy
gorge. Behind his home and in view of
this winter porch, he will have a park
of natural splendor, sloping down the
bank of the creek, while in front of his
palace he already has a beautiful lawn
planted with hardy winter flowers. All
of these delights he will share with his
bride, formerly Miss Jane Iuibe, whom
he married a year ago in Montreal; also
with his widowed mother and two un-
married sisters.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

four years in Paris as President Arthur's
minister to France, during all of which
time she shared in his social triumphs-
She is considerably younger than her
husband being his second wife, whom
he married when he was almost fifty.
OF their five daughters two are expected
to grace their Washington home-Miss
Mary, the youngest, who remains unmar-
RED and her sister Mrs. Helen Morton,
the former Countess de Tallerand-Peri-
cord
Another man of wealth whose name
will be transferred this winter from the
social register of New York to that of
the Capital city is William W. Law
renee, vice president of the National
Lead Company. and son of the late Col
John j. Lawrence, who was one of the
coal barons of Pittsburgh.
Upon the eastern bank of Rock creek.
Just below the new Bridge of the Lions
Mr.. Lawrence has just completed the
largest mansion In the Capital city. Its
grounds occupy a whole block and the
building itself measures 16o feet across
the front, which means that it is eight
times as broad the average city house.
1t is built in the style of an English
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

tation as a gambling resort Of low char
acter In 1893 the present building was
erected.
1t is impossible to give here even a
mere list of the great sales that have
been held at Christie's. Since the great
Bernol collection sale in 1850 which real
lied d total of 1851. 100 there has been
a long succession of notable auctions. In
1863 the Bicknell pictures brought S2Gi,
49,. Nine years later the elliot pictures
brought $S22.J0. The Manley Hall col
lection, sold i'll 1875 and 1878, realized
s7ao, Geo while SS333Go was paid for me
baron Grant pictures in 1877. The Fon-
tame collection, the Bolckow, the Dudley
and the David Price pictures, the Mag
Mac, the Lyme stephens and the Gold
smid collections all passed through the lit
tie auction room on King street.
Turning from collections to individual
works of art. we find that Rubens' Ma
donna and Child with ST John" was sold
for $751; under the hammer at Chris
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

the sale of the Earl of Oxfords collec-
ton in 1I1i. head by Holbein sold for
800 and Nandyck for $50.
In i'6i Christie advertised his first sale
of pictures. 1t included genuine works of
Michelanselo, Andrea del Sarto, Titan,
Tintoret, y. Poussin Rembrandt and Te-
niers besides others. and the whole real
lied total of 81 90
Prices We're on the up grade. and in
Use Deserfans. a famous collector ere
ated a sensation by paying $1,000 for a
Claude at London sale. This was fol-
lowed a few years later by the sale Of a
pair of ClaudeS for SiJ.OO. THESE
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

ties while Gansborough's Maria Wal
pole" brought $63,525. About year ago
Raeburn sold for $4,000. Famous ex-
amples of the work of Romney, Reynolds,
Lawrence and Turner have. within COM
paratively recent years, been sod IN the
King street rooms for small fortunes.
One of the most sensational Chrlstle
sales of recent years was tnat OF inc
famous Mrs. Lewis Hill $ collection In:
latter viii be more easily remembered
under the name OF Mrs. Samuel Lewis. In
1907 the almost unriVaied collection OF
her late husband came under the hammer
in the King street rooms and lewelry eN-
pertS from all over the world attended.
So valuable were the individual items and
so rapid the. selling that in Tour hours
SlI4G3l had been realized.
Dapper men in frock coats and silk hats
Wed with one another for possession OF
the beautiful Jewels. Without excitement.
merely by . movement of a hand or the
futter of a catalogue, they raised the
bidding by tive-thousand dollar jumps. A
pearl and brilliant necklace sold for SOL.
$50 diamond tiara started at Slo,UO
and in a few moments the bidding had
risen to 5000 at which extraordinary
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

The recent procession of these wealthy
New Workers into social Washington
hospitable gates has been long one.
There were George Vanderbilt landlord
of wondrous Biltmore. who built coloni-
al home near the Letters: Perry Belmont,
who erected one of the great show houses
of the town; James Low Hartman, who
has built new country home in
Virginia; Robert Roosevelt, whose new
home in the Sheridan Circle district was
opened a fortnight ago for the wedding
of his daughter. olga: Edison Bradley.
who is now adding private theater TO
his art palace on Dupont circle. And
it is persistently rumored that the Duchess
of Marlborough will shortly lease the
former home of the late Senator Quay,
on X street, next to the widow of the
late millionaire Senator Elkins. whose
daughter. Miss Katherine is IL chum of
the duchess, whom she has visited in
London
Among other notabeS of great wealth
who have just transferred their resi-
dences to Washington is the retiring
mayor of the Quaker city, John +. Rey-
burn.
That the Reyburns intend to make a
long stay here is evidenced by the fact
that they have leased for ten years a
fine house on street, in the same block
with Robert T Lincoln. Like the latter,
Mayor Reyburn is no stranger to WASH
ington official life, having served ten
wears in the House of Representatives., or
which his son. Edward. is now the young
est member.
Pittsburgh which contributed the West
inghouses years ago, now yields one of
her wealthiest heiresses. Mrs. Copley
Thaw. formerly Countess of Yarmouth.
who is daughter of the late William
Thaw She has purchased a stately old
home of many memories which is now
being redecorated and refurnished for a
season of brilliant Inequalities. This, the
old Carroll mansion, was once the home
of the Countess EsterhaZy. and later that
Of Chief Justice Fuller
This mansion, which is over eighty
years old, stands upon high terrace at
18th and F streets and is graced at the
side by large garden surrounded by
high brick walls.
Also from Ohio are the money bags
coming in to feast and fete the Capital
city and heap more riches upon its
butchers. its bakers and its candlestick
makers. One of the show houses on 10th
street just below the new Pullmam palace
has just been leased by Melville T.. In
gals retired president of the Big Four
railway system. and directly upon Sheri-
dan Circle T.. H. Everett. trolley mag
nate of Newark Ohio. is building white
palace which, for luxury, will have no
peer in this entire city of magnificent
homes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03


sons of the we'll known bookseller, j. r.
Manson, becoming partners. In 1889
Thomas S Woods, who previous to that
had been an assistant. became partner,
and the firm became Christie. Manson Il
Woods, under which name it stands at
present In 1889 there was recOnstruc-
ton and new partners. Arthur Nattali, l..
Hammer and Walter Agnew, son of Sir
William Agnew. the great art dealer,
with others, were admitted At the
present time the firm is made up OF
Lancelot Hammer, Walter Agnew and
William 3. Anderson.
But despite all these changes and infu-
sion of new blood the house has always
been Familiarity known as 'Christies
..Christie So it is today. although there is
no one of that name within the great es
tablishment. and "Christies' it will prob
ably remain until it passes out of ex-
istence
1t was during the rule of the second
Christie in 1892, that the firm moved
from it's quarters in Pail Mall TO its pres
ent position at 8 King street, st. James.
The site was then occupied by Wilson
European emporium or museum, and
previously had earned an urenviable repu-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

movement continued until, before the
first quarter of the last century. por-
lions of all the best collections in Rome.
Florence, Paris, Bologna and Genoa had
crossed the channel and were in the pos
session OF men in this country.
1t was In such circumstances as these
that James Christie became the most
famous of London auctioneers. He was
by no means the first to engage in the
business, but he rapidly became the leader
Of his calling. building up reputation
for honor and integrity. He is said To
have been eloquent. enthusiastic and ami
mated, and his auction room rapidly be-
came the meeting place of fashionable
society of the day. Up TO the end of the
eighteenth century feature of the estab-
lishment was the private view day which
was held previous to great sales and invi-
tations to these private views We're more
sought after than We're cards to some of
the most famous private entertainments
of the day. An official from the opera.
acquainted with every one In the society
Of the moment, posted at the door of
the auction room to prevent the entry
Of outsiders.
Christie Is said to have been lacking i'm
great art Judgment, but he enjoyed the
close friendship of men pre-eminent in
the art world of the day. He was a man
Of boundless liberality, and at his princely
table We're to be found men like Garrick
Gainsborough and Robert Walton A
touching story of friendship involving
three men is told. Christie became Sc
curity for debt of 100000 contracted
by friend who was minor The
friend died and Christie lost the whole
sum When Garrick heard of il he i'm
mediately advanced his friend a loan of
$4,000. Some years later. when Christie
was asked by Garrick's widow to sell
some of the effects of her husband the
famous auctioneer related the circum-
stances from the rostrum.
James Christie. first. died in 1863 AL
though he had made a great deal of
money. he had lived generously and did
not ole flcI man. lie was succeeded
by his son. James. Unlike his father.
James Christie. second, was a great
scholar and art critic and he is said to
nave raised the business to a profess
sion The reputation which the house
gained during the reign of the second
Christie has remained with il ever since
He was an exquisite with the grand
manner and when he mounted the ros
trum he refused the aid OF hyperbole or
uhdue enthusiasm in his efforts to sell
the great works that passed through his
hands.
James Christie, second. was succeeded
ny two sons. who were, in turn. succeeded
pF James III. Is. Christie, the son of the
younger lie. the last of the Christies to
be connected with the firm. retired In
1889. But long before his day other men
had become associated with the business.
Even the original Christie had partners
almost from the first, whose personal
tiles, however. were overshadOWed by
that Of their more famous associate From
1177 to 1884 the firm was Christie Il An
sell. From February, 1877, to May of the
same year it was Christie. Sharp & Har-
per. In 1881, upon the death of James
Christie, second, the name became Chris
tie L. Manson-William and Edward the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

lie ca pltdi - SbCid F..
drama opens tins
season with I'M
precedented num-
hers of new mil
] i o n a ire hosts
among the drama
It's perSonae and of
II e W millionaireS'
palaces among the
stage settings.
The rate at which
Washington is en-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

~o'eiiiDeT 20, 1911.
m ost
famous of art auc-
ton houses. has
thrown open its
doors for another
season. 1t is i'm
possible to tell how
many of England's
treasures will dur
ing the next six
IN o n I h $ p a s S
through it's little
auction room to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

ace. upon which the finishing touches
have just been put this autumn. AristO-
cratic 10th street is graced by this man
sion, a wondrous abode of some seven
dozen luXuriously appointed rooms, with
a roof garden whereon smart functions
can he held during the balmy evenings
of late spring and early autumn, and
beautiful Italian garden, where, amid the
music of a marble fountain, tea will he
served while the evening shadows are
frightening.
Two other mult;millionaire widows of
Chicago perSstently reported to be plan
ming palaces in Washington are Mrs. Pot
ter Palmer. the recognized social leader
of the western metropolis. and Mrs. Mar
shall Field. relict OF that city's mer-
chant prince. In fact, Mrs. Field has
already acquired a large corner property
New Hampshire avenue but two
squares above the milliondollar mansion
of the widow of her husbands former
partner, Levi Z. Letter. Midway between
these two properties of opulent Chicago
widows is that of Mrs. Thomas Nelson
Page who. before she married the novel
list. was the widow of Henry Field, an
other Chicago millionaire.
Thus are the great fortunes of the
Windy city being drawn upon to help
Washington make good the boast that it
Is the hub of American society.
That the present head of the erstwhile
Chicago house OF Letter shares his moth
er's intention to remain in the federal
city is proved by his recent purchase of
a 3l4-acre farm on the palisades
of the Potomac. opposite Glen Echo.
Upon this site, commanding magnifi
cent view of the upper Potomac. he is
building a castle of fifty rooms. fifteen
of which will be for servants. His ball
room will be forty feet square, and
around this estate he will have park
whose natural advantages are ideal.
The capital makes another draught upon
social Chicago by acquiring Robert I. Lin
coin, who succeeded George NJ Pullman
as president CT the Palace Car Company.
He has just taken former Senator Chaun-
cey Derew's house at 18th and n streets,
which has been the home also of Elhu
Root and Maj Gen Bates.
Here the Lincolns Will enjoy a social
prominence due to them not alone be-
cause Mr.. Lincoln is a PRESIDENTS son.
but because he also has sat in the cabi-
net and filled the most socially prominent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

were the highest prices paid for paintings
for more than 100 years, and Immediately
there was rush to England of owners
with pictures to sell. From all over Eu-
rope they came and with them came
dealers and agents with commissions
from collectors. London became the CEN
ter of the art collectors world, The
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

tclnC their families of wealth may right
ly alarm its daughter cities The Ma
tional Capital is rapidly becoming the
social well as the political and intel
1ectual hub of the nation. NIllionaires
and multi-m IlonaircS are entering its
gates, no ioncer by twos and tours, but by
tens and scores each year. And at an
equal rate increases the army of retired
pubIicists, diplomats and captains of
industry of great wealth or great
genius or both, who elect to
shine resplendent in the armament of
Washington society during the remainder
of their social careers. There is a saying
that a season in the capitals salons can
be enjoyed only at the price of an un-
ceasing hankeriug to return and take up
permanent abode in the Versailles of the
new world. And recent events prove that
there is more of truth than fasity in this
saw
Thus our distinguished and opulent
sX-Nice President, Levi p. Morton, has
turned his back upon the metropolis to
resume in the city of magnificent dis
fanceS the citizenship which he reIin-
pushed eighteen years ago. And it is
4umored persistently that former Vice
President Fairbanks, another gentleman
OF great wealth, is planning to do like
wise. Also our former ENJOYS to Eng
Iand. Robert t. Lincoln, son OF the great
nlaFtyF-president has returned this sea-
son 10 the great city which he learned
To love even III the vexed and tragic
DAYS when his father was tenant of the
White House. And three other diplo-
lnatsts who. after enjoying the glamour
% the most brilliant courts of F.urone
lind the social atmosphere of Washington
most congenial TO them are Henry
White, former ambassador to Rome and
Paris: David Jayne Hill, former am
baSsador To Berlin, and John Hays Ham
mond, who was special arnba ssador TO
the coronation of George V.
II is indeed gratifying tO Washing
ton that more and more of the vast
fortunes amassed in more commercial
cities are beng drawn to make her more
and more beautiful richer and richer,
year after year.
Thus the widow of the late parlor-car
inagnate. George NJ. Pullman, chose the
Capital city as the site of her new pal
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

book and thought no more about il. At
the auction at Christie's a Bond street
dealer paid $3.50 for the 81. me suite and
he has yet TO regret his purchase.
The famous Huth sale furnished an in
stance of a small fortune being realized
for an article originally bought for al
most nothing. Some years before a War
dour street dealer had purchased a Chi
nese prunus vase formerly belonging tu
a Chinese mandarin for 81. When LOUIS
Huth the art collector, paid the dealer
SD for IT, the latter thought he had
made good bargain some years later
a Bond street antique dealer had paid
$1,000 for the same vase at Chrstie's.
There was time when private collec-
tors frequented Christies on the look
out for bargains, but ior many years the
dealers and the agents have ruled SUI
preme. Nowadays the Saiesroom at
Christie's is the BATHS ground for the
great experts like the Duveens. the Vert
heiners and the Colnaghis, men with mil
lions of dollars at their beck and call.
who, if they do not buy on comm sion
for one of the great American million
aires or continental art galleries, can af
ford To put their purchases into stock
and walt the coming of the fat-pursed
newly rich.
For more than hundred years Satur-
day was the big sale day at Christie's.
The afternoon was devoted To pictures
and other dealers respected the right
which the King street firm seemed to
have established to the occasion. The
coming of the motor car and the growth
of the Weekend habit, however. gradu
ally made Saturday IL dead day in Lon
don, and about four years ago Christie's
reluctantly acknowledged the changed
conditions and abolished cir Saturday
afternoon sales. At The prs sent time Fri
day is the big day during the season.
from the middle of November until April
sales are held almost every day.
The present home of Christic's is five
story gray stone building almost directly
opposite the St. James Theater Ons
enters through a door that might belong
To a private residence. Past the porters
Office long flight of broad steps leads to
the first floor. To the right is the gen.
eral office. and to the left the private
rooms OF the principals Above stairs
are rooms for the exhibitions and stor-
age Of works OF art. In the rear is the
little room in which the great auctions
are held The rostrum is or mahogany.
said To have been made by Chippendale.
1t is the same rostrlm from which James
Christie ] addressed the throngs that at
tested the fame of his little rooms in
Pail Mall and laid the foundations of the
fortunes OF the house. The ivory hammer
that has sealed the fate o. SO many ia
nous collections is also relic OF the first
Christie The room viii accommodate
comfortably about 30 people, but on
great occasions its capacity has been
stretched to almost twice that number
I-sually two long tables with seats for
the bidders run from the auctioneer's ros-
tum across the room, those who arrive
late standing in the rear.
Copyright, 1911, by Curtis BrownA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

take up their new homes in the collections
OF Widener, Morgan. Ryan. or some other
art-hungry American But for many
years IL has been the channel for the
steady migration from England OF the
worlds greatest pictures and other works
OF art to the newer and richer country
across the water. 1t has been the scene
OF hard-fought battles where dollars and
Soveroil rs have been the ammunition. and
the heavier artillery OF the American
money chests has moved the way To
victory
England has called a halt. Public
spirited citizens are aGitating for a law
that Will prevent impccunious noble
man selling his art treasures outside Eng
land. But. ON the other hand, there are
those, including the Duke of Rutland,
heaq 81 tue anouS Manners family no
claim that an Eng ishman should be per-
Uttcd TO do as he pleases with his own
property.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-03

A thorough cleaning improved the pic
ture a thousandfold to the eye of the I'M
initiated At the end of two months the
one dollar Rembrandt was sold
to Herr Kuppel. a Berlin Millionaire. for
$4,000. Since then Rembrandts nave
gone I'D in market value. and Herr kup-
pei has refused offers of s12o.0S made by
continental museums for his example OF
the work of the Dutch genius.
1t Is frequently the case that owners
settings their art collections through the
Christie auction rooms, are agreeabiy
surprised by the prices obtained. So un-
certain is the market that even the best
experts sometimes find it impossible to
accurately forecast the prices that Will be
paid for lots. Some years ago an Eng
lishman decided to convert his fine col
lection of tapestries into cash. and called
in an undoubted expert to get an idea Of
what he would be able to realize. Com ng
to a particularly beautiful tapestry suite.
the expert pondered while. and then
said
Two Thousand dollars"
The owner entered the estimate in his