Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-25

modern, and large enough for hotel.
Outside it was all towers and concrete and
red roofs and balconies and terraces and
sunken gardens. The interior was vast,
white, and glistening, salad of all eras.
Vandam had great gallery built for his
collections, the latest acquisition of which
was a reputed Rembrandt.
On our arrival was introduced to the
two young sons of the house, sturdy lads
staggering under triplicate burden
of high-sounding Knickerbocker names.
There was a dinner at eight, with people
in, and more people for auction afterward.
| was glad to escape eventually to the
gallery with my host. The Rembrandt,
of which had misgivngs, was duly ad--
mired, and so were Corot, a Millet,
Velasquez, and hundred or more excel
lent canvases. There We're also the books,
rare prints, engravings, and the porce-
lains.
found that Charlton Vandam had
a wide range of information and liberal
reading. He knew the history of every
object in the gallery.
"Here is where | come to rest, he said.
"Every man has his hobbies These are
mine. And that is my philosophy of the
enjoyment of life. What have is mine.
Here is this picture" He nodded toward
the Rembrandt II can sit here for hours
enjoying it. 1t represents my achieve
ment, as well as that of the artist. And it
is the same way with all have.
~ am glad to have my friends come and
admire what have; but the entire owner
ship centers in me and in me alone. |
To !, <,e
my wife. She must have jewels, hand
some gowns, all she wants. She reflects
my prosperity. Now l know she is eager
to go to New York. What does this So
ciety game mean? l am not multiml-
lionaire: only an ordinary, everyday per-
son. If we were to get into the swim, we
should be mighty little fishes. We should
just be a part of a vast system. | do not
want my individuality squeezed out of
me. Here we stand for something, and
we are independents
II am quite willing, however, for Mat
tie to have a try at it. She has chosen a
harmless if arduous line. She will soon be
glad to come back to st. Mary. l am
obliged anyhow to pass next winter in
New York. and | want to be comfortable.
AS to reviving the past gories of the
Vandams, it is all nonsense. The swell
crowd has possibly never heard of them.
They, like many good worthless, l. fear,
have been unable to maintain their posi-
ton. know it is not your policy to agree
with me; but today it is the survival of
the fittest-and that means money. And
one must keep constantly in the whirl. If
you drop out for an instant, you are lost.
THE following winter the Vandams
came to New York. Evidently Charl-
ton did not mind putting up hundred
thousand for the experiment Matte
managed to lease an old red brick double
house on lower Fifth avenue for the scene
of the resurrection of the Vandams. With
its broad windows, its marble steps, and
its wide doorway, it was a dignifed relic
of Knickerbocker days. 1t had had long
periods of disuse, and was in chronic
state of "To Let"
The change from their luxurious, up-to-
date establishment at St. Mary to this
relic of other days, without electric lights,
modern heat, and a score of other necessi-
ties, and only bathroom to floor, must
have been a shock to the Vandams. But
thara urora birb oaili,rc Jro