New-York tribune., 1911-02-19
,,opyrs.t Iml, by George W. sman.y1

between the asking price and the price
taken was too great had thev been in
fact old. No mans business acumen is
always alert. All over Europe the deal
ers arc lying in wait for Mr.. Morgan.
and vel he knows it: and well he knows
the truth Of Talleyrand's saying-it Is
quoted in Sainte- Beuves monograph on
him-that everybody's Wit is more than
a match for anybody's; sometimes
Mr.. Morgan knew the late Baron AL
phonse de Rothschild, and must, I sup
pose. have seen that great collectors
marvellous collection in the Rue St
, Florentin, in Paris. His was long the
first name in Europe in finance. and one
Of the first as connoisseur. But listen
TO little story long told with relish in
art circles all over Europe The Baron
was looking at an objct dart in GER
tain shop in Vienna which the dealer
pressed him TO buy. Finally the Baron
said:
NO. have no doubt you think it all
right, but l am not quite sure. and you
know ! never admit into my collection a
piece about the authenticity Of which
there is any doubt"
Upon which the dealer lost his temper:
Monsieur le Baron, I know the con-
trary. l know OF five pieces in your gal
leries which are not old nor genuine. but
modern copies. | know it because | sold
them 10 you"
Nothing so tragic as that ever befell
Mr. Morgan. yet there comes now and
then into the face of famous dealer an
expression from which you infer he
might have an anecdote to relate If he
would. If man tells you he has ne"er
had a fall in the hunting field, YOU con-
clude he has never ridden hard to
hounds. And man who has bought
immense quantities of art works in many
kinds is fortunate if he is misled only
now and then.
To this, as to most other rules Mr.
Morgan comes as near being an excep-
tion as any man we'll could. He has
fair and he has luck. If YOU do not be-
lieve in luck ! will tell YOU another
story:
In the double house at Princes Gate
in London reposed for long time an i'm
perfect p1rniture dc chemnee in Sevres
Of the best period. The complete set
was of FIVE pieces and Mr.. Morgan had
only four He had ransacked Europe.
Every dealer in Sevres knew of IT, and
was on the lookout but Mr.. Morgan
had relinquished all hope Of finding the
fifth. One evening just before dinner
the bell rang and the servant brought
up a message that man at the door
with parcel wished TO see Mr.. Morgan.
Send him away" was the answer.
But as the door was closing Mr.. Morgan.
from pure caprice or impulse. as he de-
scribed il, but really from an inspira-
ton. called the servant back and told
him 10 bring up the parcel There at
last was the missing fifth piece of the
qornifure de cbemipte. Now, bring the
man up" He came
You wish 10 sell this
Yes"
How much"
The man named the price I vas not
sure" said Mr.. Morgan. Il had 50 much
money in the house. but the sum was
got together and paid and receipt
taken" Then he asked:
Had YOU any particular reason for
bringing this TO me?'
NO, sir. except that I had heard OF
Won as q buver Of good things, and this
is very fine Sevres.'
Yes, ! am aware of that. Good even
ing
If that was not luck, what was il?
But luck comes to him who with fore
sight, with patient courage, awaits his
orportunitv." However that may be. Mr..
Morgan, who has had his fair shaC Of
what the gods have to bestow, sets much
store by his completed set Of Sevres. He
has. as every man who buys much comes
sooner or later 10 have, the love of the
chase. In a buyer devoid of love for
art this passion degenerates into an ap-
petite for mere acquisition. Not 50 with
him. No doubt he likes. in the phrase of
an earlier buyer getting 1t away from
the other fellow buc his real delight is
not so much in acquisition as in posses
sion and enjoyment And except for the
public service these rival accumulators
do by rescuing good things from de-
struction. II is this. and this only, which
makes their ambitions respectable.
q "