The Washington herald., 1915-02-01
Rich Men Devoted to the Arts.


intense interest in all that appertans to art by
gift of plot of ground and presumably sum of
money for the endowment of sthe American
Academy of Arts and Letters. What this academy
is to be in purpose is perhaps best suggested by
the mention of the names of some of those who
are members of it. Senator Henry Cabot Lodge,
of Massachusetts, is one of these members thereby
once proving his interest in all that art and
letters imply. Theodore Roosevelt is associated
with the institution. So is that great painter, Will
lam NJ. Chase So also is Nicholas Murray Butler,
who was recently described by the British Chan
celor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George as the
abest intellect he had ever met. The gentle John
Burrows is member as also William Dean
Howells
Archer Huntington is to be associated with that
small group of men who, having inherited great
wealth, much of which has been obtained through
the development of American resources, have had
no taste for industry, material affairs, finance
transportation but have instead cultivated their
fondness for art, music painting. Of this group,
perhaps the most conspicuous members now liv-
ing are, in addition to Mr.. Huntington, Courtland
Palmer, Henry Flagler, and until his death re-
Gently, George Vanderbilt.
OF these, three received inheritances which rep
resented wealth created by their fathers in de-
velopment of American transportation or industries.
George Vanderbilt received about $I2,oooooo;
Flagler, not quite so much, Mr.. Huntington will
ultimately be the sole beneficiary of the estate OF
his father c. P. Huntington, which was appraised
a year or two after Mr.. Huntington's death at
little in excess of $3oooo,ooo. The youngest men,
Der of this group is Mr.. Flager. Courtland
Palmer's father gained small part of his fortune
through the appreciation of New York City real
estate.
A remark was once made by a man who had
gained great success in industrial and transporta-
ton development that if Henry NJ. Flagler had
trained his son Jay Gould trained George Jay
Gould, he would have found in the
petent a manager of the Flagler interests as
George Could has shown himself to be with re-
spect to the Gould estate This remark, however,
left out OF consideration the inborn capacities OF
the two young men, George Gould easily
trained by his father because his aptitude and his
desires were all in the direction of the work which
his father had been doing.
Mr.. Flagler's son. however, could not even by
a most desperate exercise of WILL train himself to
become interested in the colossal undertakings of
his father His bent of mind and his temperament
irresistbly drew him in the direction Of art and
especially of music He fully appreciated the won
ders of the creative imagination of his father, but
he knew we'll that gift of that kind was not his.
He has turned his talents and some part of his
fortune in the direction of the advancement of
music in New York City, and it is due to his
generosity that of the great orchestras OF the
United States is self-supporting.
From a child Archer NJ. Huntington devot-
ed to archaeology and certain forms OF art He
stands supreme authority upon certain
features of Spanish art and the archaeology of Cen
trail and South America. He, it was, who brought
several years ago a remarkable collection of Span
ish paintings to New York and he established the
houses of the Hispanc Society. The Sorrea
hibition made possible by the munifccnce of Mr.
Huntington was success without parallel Many
thousands visited this exhibition.
Courtand Palmer would have taken rank with
the foremost piano players OF the world had he
been willing to play professionally. He did appear
several times with of the great orchestras and
the brilancy of his playing caused those who
knew something of him to forget that he possessed
great wealth. that he had no disposition to engage
in business but had cultivated his talent until at
last he became an artist and with perseverance
was to be ranked with the greatest. Ihere
was time when his friends thought that he might
be persuaded to take up the career Of a protes-
sional pianist. If that in his mind the plan
was abandoned. He formed an intimate associa-
ton with George Vanderbilt and with Mr. Flagler.
Each of those young men greatly admired the
taste and aspiration which distinguished the Others
Mr.. Vanderbilt had more cordial supporter OF
his plans for improving the study of forestry OF
the United States than Mr.. Palmer was. Very
often Mr.. Palmer plays amateur at private
gatherings and it has sometimes been said that
it may be unfortunate that his great wealth stands
in the way of professional career for him.
The aggregate wealth, present and prospective
of the three survivors of this group may be ap-
proximately $6o,ooo,ooo. This great wealth, to-
gether with that which Mr.. Vanderbilt utilized in
one form of public service, is devoted not to ma
terial affairs, but to the expansion of American
interest in art and such expansion as will enable
even the poorest of Americans to have opportunity
to study and appreciate whatever has artistic
value.