The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-09-17
INDIGNANT OVER
 MONA LISA THEFT France Demands Protection
 for Treasures DANGER FROM FIRE Forty-five Different Systems of Heating Used in Louvre-Some Amusing Attempts to Cap-
 ture Thief
GEORGE DUFREsNE

 theft of Leonardo da vincis masterpiece from the Louvre is apt to lead to a gem eral revolution In the menege of the fam ous museum, which art lovers all over the world have been praying for for years. | The people of France are probably more fond of their national treasures of art | than any people in the world, but at the same time the invaluable treasures con tained in the old royal castle on the bank | of the Seine are exposed to all the dangers imaginable.
 couple of years ago it was pointed out in the chamber of deputies that no fewer than 45 different systems of heat ing apparatus were used at the Louvre, and that the wonder was that it had not been destroyed by fire It was to lesson the danger in that respect that M. 'Ho- molle, the director, and other high off cials, received government orders to quit their quarters at the national palace ana to live in private residences. Meanwhile the heating of the Louvre was to be re- organized and, indeed the works are stlll going on.
 A colossal confagration at the Louvre
 
 was infinitely more likely than that thief should be able. leisurely, and in the light of day, to steal the Louvre's great est treasure 1 quite understand tears of rage" being shed when the news was announced. Only artists and people with the artist instinct, can realize the passion ate attachment works like the "gioconia' inspire. For four centuries it was the proud possession of France, fascinating all eyes, attracting all cultured nations, q pure and unadulterated glory. It Was the one picture that defied imitation Mona Lisa was the ineffable and the inscruta- ble; Pygmalion before Galata, Michael Angelo before Moses, were not more adoring than the countless artists who have bent in ecstatic reverence before this
 inspiration of Leonardo de Vinci. If IL had been the hazard of war, an accideat, the finger of God" the catastrophe would be less poignant but to think that it IS the direct result of official negligence makes the blood boil.
 The French government quickly saw the significance of the outbreak of public in dignation, by no means confined to the ed- ucated classes. An official note was is sued without delay promising that the se- verest punishment would be inflicted cn those responsible for the loss. And, as usual, the stable door is vigorously locked now that the horse has been stolen.
  official? It is the system which is to blame. Apparently it was nobody's bus mess to control the vagaries of photogra- phers. Imagine the worlds masterpieces being left at the mercy Of any barbarian, lunatic or robber that passed by!
 For a race meeting, a theatre, or any public spectacle the soldiers are utilized. There are so many in Paris that employ ment of their spare time would do them no harm. But you never see files of sol diers marching for duty at the Louvre. As for the employees and caretakers. they are of the slumbering sort, enjoying the snug berths provided for them by political favoritism. It would not be so bad if fe pictures were properly fastened to the walls and connected with electric bells. But 1t only requires minute to detach any of the smaller tableaux.
 The ease with which the ''Goconda' was stolen will certainly awaken the at tention of malefactors. There are other national museums besides the Louvre. Versailles Fontalnebeau, Compiegae, Malmaison, Chantilly and St. Germain are mines of artistic and historical treasure. They are less guarded than the Louvre.
 The hunt for the men who stole La Gioconda' has resulted in many amusing incidents all over the country, for all kinds of people are on the constant look
  stranger with suspecting eyes.
 At Rouen a commercial traveller entered a barber shop for shave the other lay. l He had sort of pasteboard valise, whicn he placed carefully on the floor. It vas big enough to contain the "Gioconda' The barber,s assistant looked at it snyiy. Incidentally railroad pass fell out of the travellers pocket. It had his photo- graph, in which he was represented with full beard. The equanimity of the oar Der was totally upset by this. He com muncated his suspicious to others and 1 as the customer left the shop regular hue and cry was started after him. He was called after as the velour de la Joconde.'
 The astonished traveller quickly justi- fled himself by opening his box and sho ow- ing that 1t contained samples of .ner- chandise As to his beard he good na- turedly explained that he did wear one, | and was photographed that way before the summer, but during the great heat he | had his beard cut off.
 The only chance of recovery seems to | be by the offer of a large ransom. M | Henri Rochfort returns to the charge and is organizing what he hopes to be large public subscription The Society of the Friends of the Louvre declined to accept | his plan, as he at first proposed it, but Its president and other influential members
  Marquis de Magny asked to be inscribed | for a sum of $1OOO. A number of Limoges | promises to raise $100o in that town. M. Rochefort himself says that, small as his | own means are, he will gladly subscribe $2oO.
 1t is hardly likely, he thinks that the thief who must have had only business deal in view, can be offered more than S10O,0OO
 ; This sum NJ. Rochefort would raise by a general appeal to all art lovers. The | money of each subscriber is to be de- pos.ted in the Bank of France. NJ. Roche. fort will undertake to hand the money to the man. and to secure his impunty by | helping him. if necessary, to avoid falling into the clutches of the police.
 He hopes that the thief will trust his word of honor to that effect.
 One hears so much of the progress of that 1t is quite refreshing to mark thei singular unanlmity of the Conseis Generaux in invoking the patri- otic sentiment of the French people. Or course, everyone hoped that peace would not be broken with Germany, still there was the chance that the situation might lead to war. In the thick of the crisis the ..country councils of France, represents ing 90 departments, held their annual and the first thing they did was to declare that the nation as one man %as prepared for any sacrifice to "repuse the invader" or to defend the "honor' of France. T3
 As far as can see there was not a dis