The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-11-03
STUNNING SOCIETY, witt
OPEN PUBLIC ART GALLERY
Mrs. Clark, Wife of Multi-Mil-
lionaire, Is to Reopen Mansion
In December.

NEW YORK. Nov. 81 have no
social ambitions.
1T makes but little difference to me
where | live, 40 long as am with my
husband"
These statements. made by Mrs.
Anna Clark, were recalled today by
the announcement OF her husband,
William A. Clark. formerly United
States senator from Montana, that
his 100000 mansion. at Fifth-ave.
and Seventy-seventh-st.. will be- re-
opened in December, when Mrs. Clark
, returns from Paris.
According to Mr.. Clark. his home
will be thrown open TO the art-loving
public as soon as suitable plan can
be arranged whereby the coming of
visitors will not disturb the privacy
OF the family. In other words, his
mansion. with its storehouse OF art
treasures, win be a semi-public mu-
scum on stated occasions. Mr.. Clark.
in discussing his plans in Los An
geles, said he had decided on this plan
in order that art-lovers might share
ton OF paintings. bronZes and other
treasures he has been making for
many years.
II do not believe that | have a right
TO be selfish with the objects OF art
have collected" said Mr.. Clark. Dur
ing my brief stay in the house. | have
had many friends of many lovers OF
art there. When practical plan can
be worked out. | intend to give the
art-loying public generally an oppor-
tunity to see and believe, enjoy my
treasures. That is, the purely art
portion of the house will be opened
at stated periods"
II was suggested that Mr.. and Mrs.
Clark would entertain society layishly
during the winter here.
That depends on what YOU call so
ciety," he said The man who goes
i'm for what is termed society loses
independence and becomes dependent
He must entertain when he does not
feel inclined. lie must be enter
tanned when ne wants his own and
his family,s society and he loses the
charm OF social intercourse as that
exists TO my mind.
''If YOU mean giving big parties,
these will be very few: IL you mean
meeting our friends and the people
of the artistic and professional world,
hope those occasions will be many
Mrs. Clark is woman who en-
Joys the beautiful side of life, which
means that side which includes arts
tic expression and effort. She is
brilliant harpist herself and is intense
" fond of music and the kindred arts,
as | am, and we both like the sort of
people Of similar tastes and inclina-
ton.
Formal society--that which de-
votes itself 10 formal society affairs
has little attraction for either OF
us.
What | enjoy is 10 go home to
dinner. and IL | feel like II to stay
at home, and If feel like IL to go out,
but the sensation of having to go to
some form of entertainment as mat
ter of duty. Of obligation TO some one,
is not TO my fancy.
Il am not adversely criticising So
ciety. | am only saying what pleases
me in the way of distraction from the
arduous features Of existence
Mrs. Clark shares her husbands
views. II like my friends and my hus-
bands friends, she declared upon
the occasion Of her last visit to this
city. II don't aspire TO social leader
ship. because | don't believe those
things are worth while at best. But
that is not to say that am averse
TO society"
The history of Mrs. Clark is ro-
mantle. AS a young girl in Butte,
Mont, she lived with her father, DR..
Theophilus La Chapelle, who went
west to recover his health. Knowing
of the wealth and power of Senator
Clark. he appealed on his deathbed
to the millionaire mining man to care
for his family, and Clark promised TO
do this.
Anna, one OF the children, was re-
markably talented as a musician. and
Mr.. Clark sent her to Boston. There
her talents developed such promise
that he was advised TO send her
abroad. She resided in Paris with
the ex-senator's widowed sister. and
for five years studied the languages,
the harp and piano. On the occasion
OF his annual visit abroad Clark met
his young ward, and in 1899 he pro-
posed They were married the fol-
lowing year.
The Clark mansion is probably the
most expensive residence in America.
II took seven years TO build. The
STYLE OF architecture is described as
modernized Louis XIV The most
striking feature is the lofty cupola,
which consists of white granite
tower. decorated with bronze and sur
rounded by an open loggia, which
rises 1863 feet above the street. There
are 121 rooms of all kinds. 80 ordi-
nary bath rooms lined with Opaque
glass, a Turkish bath combined pic
ture gallery theater and concert room,
a statuary hall, swimming pool, two
roof gardens and six-ton ice plant.