The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-30

to conquer them ALL but to take them one AT time 20
make one step forward at time.
1t was just after making this decision that Mrs
lydlS, who had studied the her country Spain
since her girlhood decided that she would form - coi
ectlon or the art OF that country Italy specaliZ-
1ng In that OF the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
She often said that it was this love that gave
her the strength 10 fight her social battles That the
strategem and genius needed capture a picture or a
carving from some other ardent collector was of i'm
metse nclp In the development OF her social campagn
The Summer after Mrs. I.ydlg married into family
and society that welcomed her coldly she threw down
ner gauntlet by taking house in Newport and al
,acking the social fabric its foundation She took
inc direct road to societys heart. woman of beauty
herself she surrounded herself with beauty That
irs season the oldtme leaders realized that she must
he recognized and must he reckoned with, and they
prepared themselves for battle.
me next season her pathway was easier and in the
MIDST OF her success she brought out her charming
nephew OF Elihu Root was at this time also that
she began the collection OF the unusual bronze stat,
cues that MI Morgan has many times tried to buy
II was after wrestling his collector the remark
aoe statue OF Hercules killing Arcadian stag that
she fought and won her greatest conflict against the
leaders OF New York society And always that bronze
mas 'yped for her this success and has spurred her
on 10 greater effort "
Fascinatngly regardless of consequences after as
snrnE hersei ut Newport that she could rule If She
would she went abroad seasons resting" said
'VI ,llchnS ne resting consisted OF busy adding 10
her knowledge OF italian and Spanish art and litera
lure ana TO ner collection The directors curaors OF
we srea' museums of France, Spain and London grew
TO know her well: they kept their choicest
20 ner ana many times the savans called on her
cassE some object OF picture. could tell everv
shade OF difference between the different schools ana
drtiss. IN Pars and In Rome her intellectual charn
WIS reaIized before New York knew that her know
edge was at all unusual ~ ~
men she returned 10 New York and at once pave
ne'sc over with cagerness and delight to making hcr
new mouse buii' by the late Stanford White a fttinp
nome TOT her treasures. OF her success society ia
never tired telling 'e'S is
"eh she sent out cards for house warming and
society from the highest to the lowest fought 10 ~
l"Nlleo Men OF letters, artists Of note man ga
women interested in the sociological questions o ~
va! nave been her guests Her salon becama no,ol
nn' always 1t seemed as though the intense mepaIi,,.
me oeph OF magnetism that her such recoonton
VAS literally eating her up Rut this rnaenetisn, ~;
neatailty placed her in the forefront and tent -
celebrity. ~ e pau ioi ner
with society conquered. with her intelectua, CO.
preihacy acknowledged her collection of art treas,r
me envy OF such men Morgan and the dirnctors -,
me Metropolitan Museum Mrs. Lydig turned r. frosh
iieos one seemed consumed with desire IN dr.,n
ne TO the last drop. She like the man in RaI1an'
hconpaIable story THE Asses Skin" and AS in IN,
story with every fresh success her health rb;oh
torfespcnded with the skin grew more fragile ,s
'g sk'n diminished in size her strength diminished
ne ater fresh fields the suffrage cause and
tiliai'hFopic work Perhaps woman was over en-
,n.arshy criticised Mrs. Lydg was when Al ,be
~ ~ hrt nVorce from w. f. y Stokes she gave IN
H. only child to him. boy was said that sho sofa
biid rou fi,JoV'ooo That therefore she must dislike
uniore" But here in many either things she va :
n 80, gu IN her collection of paintings she has
1, Madohnas han any other subject Her two
'''" are SHOWN on this page. They are all of the