davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

The present controversy had its origin in
the fact that Independence Hall is still
controlled by politicians. Curiously enough,
the political leaders are not responsible
for the damage done by mice, nor FOR the
fact that the collection has been closed for
three years. The nucleus Of the present
collection was gathered by Charles Wilson
Peale during the Revolutionary period, and
formed what was known "Peale's Mu
scum" It was purchased by the city about
seventy years ago. After many years Of
neglect various efforts to protect the col
lection and the buildings resulted III the
formation of the Independence Hall Ad
ganizaton did good work, but about q
dozen years ago it started to spend city
funds for reproductions of portraits of
Revolutionary characters. Before the pro-
tests of artists and historians called
halt the collection had grown from about
1870 paintings to more than 400, most Of
them of little historical or artistic value.
About three years ago the city appro-
priated funds for the restoration of indie
pendence and Congress halls, and it was
necessary to take down the paintings This
and timely exposure OF the things that had
been done by the advisory commission pro-
vided the opportunity for thorough over
hauling OF the collection by the Philadel
phia Art Jury. About 800 portraits that
never should have been placed in the col
lection were put aside for rejection.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

must seem very foolish Of me to tell you
this. But believed it firmly. And the
idea pleased me. One imagines many
droll things"
The Through passed too quickly 70
suit Danielle, who found a real pleasure
IN her godson's company. In the course
Of their daily promenades they had long
talks together. Little by little she
learned from him things she had nor
known before-his age twenty-five
years. and his profession. He was a
Jewelry worker. His employers had q
large establishment at Lille and since
they were about to retire from business
just before the war it had been agreed
that their successor should keep Mechain
as director Of the manufacturing depart
ment. Later, no doubt by practising
economy, he would be able to set up
for himself. So many projects now be-
come unrealizable because of the inter-
vening catastrophe of war.
WHO knows?" said Nine Bordas. who
was present that day. "You will realize
them, after all. The war can't last for
ever. When it is over you will 20 to
work again to reach your goal. You will
found family. This will be only an in
terruption on the road to happiness"
Happiness" murmured the young
soldier, shaking his head. ~ know too
we'll now that I shall never overtake it."
Two days later he returned to his post
at the front. Thereafter Danielle had
noticed, at first with surprise and then
with annoyance, that a change had come
over their correspondence. Mechain
wrote almost as fiuently, and recounted,
as before, his various experiences. But
his letters became merely commonplace
narratives; or, at least, she found in
them fewer and fewer of those outpour-
ings of genuine feeling, those tender
standings of sentiment, which only a very
deep interest can inspire
And now, after many postponements.
he had refused to make second visit to
the Villa Of Roses. 1t was the FINISHING
touch!
Il must have hurt his feelings without
knowing it," said Danielle to herself
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15
Philadelphia Waits While Mice Feed Priceless Pantir

ever, says the paintings are in good o.
diton. All of these paintings have No..
sent to New York for cleaning. Art ,or.
he{e are wondering why it wouldn't b.s.'
been safer to have the cleaners come
Philadelphia, if local talent is not .re
GENTLY skilful. In this connection Il snor,,
be said in simple justice to Farina ~.
he has played an important part IN s.
Wilstach collection. In 1912 ne vas CALI
upon TO clean a group labelled youth ana
Love-" by Carlo Dolci, who died in ,ess
Catalogues Of his work contained no a..
title as youth and Love-" but critics mr.
inspected the painting pronounced It =,
doubtedly genuine. It was described ..
follows in the Wilstach catalogue:
"a charming picture, in which is show,
a woman standing at a table, on whics
there is a great dish filled with fruits ~
all kinds. Behind her is an attendant and
in the foreground is delightful li.,,,
cupid. The background is very dark br.
the coloring is exceedingly rich in tone
and the picture is painted with great
wealth of detail and with the most e..
quisite charm and sweetness"
Farina, after inspecting the painting
came TO the conclusion that the expressons
and attitude of the figures we're not n
harmony with basket Of fruit. He rubbed
pear and disclosed an eye Finally Re
cleaned away the entire basket Of fru;.
and disclosed the head of John the Ban.
list. The painting was then identified "a
"Salome with Head Of John the Baptist
a Dolci that had been "lost" for two hun.
dred years. Just why, or when, or where
the basket Of fruit was painted over ths
head nobody knows.
The great public objection to TIE handing
Of the Wistach collection IS that i i
closed. Other sections OF Memorial Hall
are open, and the place IS thronged WITH
visitors. Art lovers from out OF town fre.
quently visit the place for the sole pus.
pose Of seeing the Wilstach pictures, onl,
TO be informed that they arc being re.
arranged"
Mr.. Widener's announcement about tn,
famous collection made BY his father va,
extremely cautious He has IN mind thu
formation Of a corporation similar to ths
Of the Metropolitan Museum, of New York
TO which collectors would feel safe in lesv
irg their paintings to keep them OFT o
the hands OF politicians. Il such corpora
ton can be formed he may leave his col
lection to Il.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

I shall no longer be alive, my dear
godmother, when these lines reach you
For that reason I dare to write YOU
rs | do. | understand very we'll from
the tone of your correspondence that
my refusal to visit you again had
rutf1ed you and that you thought me
an ingrate- I loved you (pardon this
last confession) and my dearest wish
would have been some day to join your
life and mine. When | realized that
your social position made my hope
futile suffered greatly. And
lacked the courage to intensity that
suffering by seeing you again. You
had become everything to me, who had
never before known the tenderness Of
woman's affection. SO much so that
perhaps I should not have been able
to keep my secret if I had spent my
leave with you second time. You are
so infinitely generous that, no doubt,
the revelation of this suffering, Of
which you were the innocent cause.
would have troubled you. Now, how
ever, want you to know that you
have been my sole JOY, the only love OF
my whole life, and that if have been
able to DO my duty as a soldier it is
the thought of you that has sustained
me. Adieu. If my prayers go whore
every prayer is answered, you will be
happy always.
For long time Danielle remained
the letter opened on her
knees. She was seized with remorse.
And at the same time she was filled with
a real sorrow. How unjust she had been
to this man, whose double heroism had
led him to sacrifice both his life and
his love,
She saw clearly now into her own mind
and comprehended the secret attachment
which from the first had drawn her tow
ard her godson. The frank sympathy
which she had shown him was perhaps
something more than sympathy. He had
1elt that and, recognizing the impossi-
plilty OF any closer relation, had gone
away so as not to disturb her life. How
ennobled he appeared to her at that mo-
ment-this simple soldier who had known
how to practise, without shrinking,
courage the most difficult of all!
Danielle reread the letter. Yes, per-
haps the last wish of Pierre Mechain
would be realized. She might be always
happy; but never, she felt, would any one
love her as truly as the man from whom
she had just received this posthumous
declaration. She lifted the soiled and
crumpled paper solemnly to her lips and
imprinted over the signature long and
1ervent kiss--the sincerest and purest of
the kisses of love.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

nHILADELPHlA, Dec. 1a.-Hungry
- mice nibbling at priceless paint
ings at Independence Hall have
been the innocent cause of revela-
tions concerning every art collection of any
consequence In Philadelphia and, indirect
ly, of the first definite indication by the
owners that the famous Wdener collection
of old masters may be left to this city
OF more immediate Importance the public
has won q partial victory over what has
been called the "olgarchy of art; so much
of victory that, barring accidents or un-
foreseen delays, the people of Philadelphia
will be permitted to look at the portraits
they own within another year or two
Aside from the damage done to the early
American portraits at independence Hall,
the most startling fact brought to light
is that for good reason, in two cases,
the three great publicly owned collections
in this city have been under lock and key
for more than a year. The Independence
Hall collection has not been on view for
nearly three years. The collection left
by the late John G. Johnson, famous law
yer. is in a storage warehouse and will
ISIuhlu llelc 1OT auOtNeI year
The Wilstach collection in Memorial Hall,
Fairmount Park, also has been closed for
a year. And for an equal period many of
The best paintings at the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts have been stacked
out of sight.
These revelations have been followed, as
might be expected, by all sorts OF charges
and counter charges, and by some inter
esting "inside stories" of big deals in "old
masters" that often turned out to be very
new. For instance. it be stated on
he best of authority that in q period OF
(, little more than year, ending four
or five years ago, one clever foreigner who
opened an Office in New York sold 5000, 900
worth of fakes to American collectors.
John G.. Johnson got some of them. He
sent two-labelled reproductions" in his
own hand-to the Wilstach collection for
what they were. The others cannot be
found in his collection. Men who know him
say he put them into furnace. The late
Peter A. B. Widener was taken in for nearly
5000, 000 but on discovery Of the swindle
managed to get half his money returned.
Collectors in all parts of the country were
among the victims, and most Of them are
still convinced that they got originals.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

was constantly open to men on fur
Tough, happy to enjoy again in this rich
bourgeois household some days Of COM
Portable home life.
All departed with sadness, their leaves
over, signing for the time when they
might have a chance to return. Mechain
was the only exception to the rule. And
he was the one among them all whom the
young girl really wished to see again.
Despite the faults in character result
ing from her deplorable education, Da-
nielle remained sound at heart If from
the beginning Pierre Mechain had been
her favorlte, it was because, as q pupil
from an orphan school, he had seemed
more unfortunate than the others, who
at least could evoke the memory of be-
ings dear to them from whom they had
been temporarily separated by the war.
Very intelligent, this little soldier had
revealed in his correspondence a nature
more refined than that of most of his
comrades. Adult courses, pursued with
interest, had supplemented his early
education. So he wrote charming letters
to his young godmother. He expressed
his gratitude with heartfelt eloquence,
dwelling on it with an ingenious and
simple frankness. Danielle answered
his letters with more pleasure than she
did those of her other correspondents.
And their exchange Of notes became more
and more frequent and intimate.
Mechain didn't know anything about
the social status of the Bordases Obey
ing an instinct which she never analysed,
Danielle had been absolutely silent on
this point. When he came on leave the
soldier had been dumfounded and Da-
nielle liked to recall the attack of gayety
which had almost convulsed her when he
declared to her, in answer to her ques-
tioning, that he had believed his god
mother to be modiste, q dressmaker or
shop girl.
If she had been older and more OBJ
servant, instead of being amused she
would have been astonished at her god
sons bitterness Of tone when after
making this avowal he added, with a
laugh which concealed real suffering, at
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

after her first flush Of irritation "But
when | look back I can't recall how.
No; I probably guessed right. He must
have several godmothers. After all,
that is his affair. And 1 don't want him
to think that I was really eager to have
him come again"
In her most Indifferent style she wrote
her godson that she fully understood his
desire to visit the capital, and expressed
the hope that he would greatly enjoy his
furlough there.
Several months passed Pierre Me-
chain had become for Da-iele only a
protege to whom she owed material as
sistance. She continued to send him
packages regularly. But her letters be-
came rarer and rarer. The soldiers an
swers We're hopelessly formal and the
correspondence, once so attractive, be-
came more and more Of burden to the
young godmother.
One morning Danielle was going over
her mail from the front. Among the
many soldiers letters she noticed an
envelope addressed in strange hand.
She opened it. It contained another
sealed envelope and leaf torn from q
notebook on which these lines were
written:
Mademoiselle: Private Pierre Me-
chain was killed on July - last be-
fore Chateau Thierry. I picked up
his body and found in his pocketbook
an envelope bearing your address with
these instructions: please forward
this, in case anything happens to me-"
discharge sad duty and beg that
you will accept, etc.
The signature of hospital ORDERLY
was appended.
Danielle became very grave. So ne
was dead Poor fellowI She had q
real sense of grief. And what touched
her most was the thought Of his last let
ter, which he had sent her in the very
moment of death, and which no Doubt
contained supreme adieu. The Young
girls hand trembled as she opened the
envelope, stained with blood and mire.
She read very slowly:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15
Nm A rage Danielle Bordas crumpled
4 between her delicate fingers the letter
-~- she had inst read

Nm A rage Danielle Bordas crumpled
between her delicate fingers the letter
she had just read,
That Mechain, what boor he was,
after ALT To refuse her invitation Ca
pressing invitation at that) after all the
attentions and favors which she, in her
role of a good godmother, had showered
on him during his last leave!
That was six months ago Since then
he had employed all sorts Of pretexts--
renewal Of the offensive, q transfer to
different sector, sickness, suspension Of
furloughs-to delay his return to the
Villa of Roses, the residence Of the
wealthy Bordases, rich bankers fam
lily! To-day, following her most urgent
solicitation, Danelle received this reply:
III prefer not to visit you at this time,
my dear godmother shall spend my
approaching ten days leave in Paris"
The only child in the Bordas house
hold, prodigiously spoiled, Danielle toler-
ated no opposition to her least desire. In
her eighteen years she had encountered
nothing but complete and joyful submits
sion to her wishes. So the refusal of her
godson irritated her. 1t was a personal
insult and in her ill-hulnor she sought to
uncover it's motives.
Her mother approached and asked:
"Well, what day will Mechain arrive?"
Without deigning TO answer Daniellc
handed over the letter. Nine. Bordas
read it and was greatly astonished.
He was so anxious to come the first
time And now he backs out. Yet we
treated him very handsomely. ] don't
understand it,
a." said Danielle, angrily, II under
stand it only too we'll. This young man
must have godmother in every province
He wanted to visit Auvergne and we gave
him the opportunity. Now that his
curiosity is satisfied he goes somewhere
else. 1t is very simple"
Chow can you think of such thing?"
~ think of it because it is the truth
am no longer astonished at his modesty
on the subject of presents or that he
always said I sent him too many. Now I
know why"
And without waiting to listen to her
mother, who was seeking to excuse the
young soldier for his lack of politeness,
Danielle fled to the garden, eager for
solitude and silence.
At the beginning Of the war Danielle
had adopted as godsons several soldiers
from the invaded regions. The large
fortune Of her parents permitted her to
discharge, like true Providence, her role
of little fairy dispensing gifts M. and
Nine. Bordas encouraged their daugh-
ter's generosity and the Villa of Roses
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

Labor held down and feeling little III
terest in the business except as wage get
ter viii, IS 4 has done, stand for limits
ton OF output. which means reactionism
and not progress. Ar eight -horr dar. high
wages, sanitary surroundings, placing labor
st every advantage, Will ROW be tried, and
will succeed il its effec. is 20 bring labor
TO feel AZ interest IN the business. which
means maximum output instead Of limited
output. Giving labor the advantages men
toned viii mean high prices. unless IS
result OF better treatment of laaor the OUT
put increases per man"
The Spokesman-Review." of spo.
kane, Wash, finds that two great truths
We're voiced at the congress. The first
was that Of Secretary Redfeld. when he
said:
Il am more ana more impressed With
the truth that reimbursement is very
largely state of mind"
The second truth was the declaration
Of Mr.. Schwab that.
The real development Of any great
enterprise depends upon the individual
enterprise of the American business
man"
Often, says The Spokesman-Re-
view,' eve speak of labor and capital
"as though in themselves they could cary
forward great undertakings and give nation
prosperity. The truth Is that another vital
principle IS Observation-Disclosures When in
rative disappears, capital and labor are pos.
erIess. The years Immediately following
every great panic in this country are re-
hinder of the truth OF that observation
In 1894, FOR example, labor walked tie
streets in search of employment, willing %
accept wages that would afford only the
barest necessities OF existence At the sane
time capital was abundant and even re-
dundant, but IL bought bonds at low rates
OF interest, or hid itself in safety deposit
vaults
Initiative had disappeared and confidence
vas lacking. It all goes back. in fact, to
confidence, to what Secretary Redield terms
a state of mind When confidence exists
initiatives thrives and with initiative stir
ring capital and labor fall into ready ser
vice.
The only note of discord IS that
sounded by THE Brooklyn Eagle which
sees portent of trouble in the an
announcement of NJ. Clementel, Frenen
Minister Of Commerce, that his govern
ment had denounced all commercai
conventions containing the most Ia
vored nation clause. The Eagle sees
in this notice that France is going "
go rough-shod after trade, and that Other
European nations will do the same. lie
statement of Secretary Redheld befosS
the Congress that the American business
man should go after business like gen
tleman was ridiculed
"Vaporings of that kind" says "Ihs
Eagle, will butter no parsnips-
The sooner they are dispensed VITA fns
sooner we are likely to get down TO busF
ness One obstacle was removed when lI'
substitution of cooperation for compe~'
ton was legalized for foreign trade pu''
poses. And to that cooperation the govern,
ment of the United States Will have TO "
party through its authorities duly cons'''
tuted Otherwise, futility of search o'as''
wise, the certainty that shall be CO
tanced in the race by countries the govern
ments of which take into account not ..
stractions, but necessitates, more or w
] stern. and principally more"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15
The Visitors Come,
l. But Find Nothing

Ihe casual reader will say this is typical
Of Philadelphia sloth. But the question
goes deeper than a mere joke. Records Of
the American Museum Association will
show that 100000 persons visit indie
pendence Hall every year. In the last year
and half more than 100000 soldiers or
their way to France went through the his
toric pile. And nearly every visitor,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15
sness Asks Labor to Extend Its Hand in Fellowship

been presented to labor leaders. Now and
then there has been discussion Of more or
less similar plans, but not much beyond
discussion has ever been attained There
will be critics who will declare chat all this
discussion at Atlantic City has been merely
talk. 1t will remain as talk if the employee
partners elect TO keep it as such, for the
mployer-partner cannot do everything
alone or, for that matter. DO much Of any
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-15

MOT Capital or Labor" but "Capi-
tai and Labor" was the keynote
of the great reconstruction con-
gress of the United States Chamber Of
Commerce held week ago at Atlantic
City. Summing up the results of this
meeting. which was attended by four
thousand American business men repre-
senting APO industries and approximate
ly forty billions OF capital, The Trib-
une's correspondent, Mr.. Knappen, said:
"If revolutions are Of the spirit rather
chan of the club and these leaders Of in
dustrial America assembled in serious con-
ference at Atlantic City are barometers of
the American spirit-then it may be said
that America has passed through & revolu~
ton without the firing of q single shot In
civil tuYnult, Remains only the embodiment
of the regenerated spirit in definite form
and it's gradual supersession in practice OF
the old concepts and ways"
The congress was called to discuss the
problems of business following the war,
and of what was accomplished by this
greatest of all meetings of business men
Samuel H. Barker, writing in "The
Philadelphia North American said:
THE path forward has been blazed and
cleared by the sharp-cut declarations and
propositions which the congress gave to the
country. They reach in all drections they
apply generally and specifically; they ring
with the bgness of American spirit; they
press confidently into new regions OF
thought, Of ideals and Of action; they recog-
nize the rights and interests of all, wheth-
CT the laborer the capitalist, the indi-
vdual concern the entire industry, the
community as represented by the American
public or the community Of nations and OF
peoples"
More specifically the work of the con-
Vention may be summed up as follows:
Industrial enterprises should he CON
Quoted with view to the greatest OPP
portunity for all concerned
Regularity of employment must be
striven for.
The right of workers to organize to
be admitted and collective bargaining
to be conceded
Impartial agencies must be set up 70
interpret and apply agreements and to
make prompt and authoritative settle
tnents of difference.
The right of all workers to mini
mum living wage is declared.
High wages and national prosperity
20 hand in hand. Therefore, whenever
the volume of business declines the last
item Of expense to be reduced should
be wages.
A standardized and established wage
should represent q standardized meas
ure of performance.
In all plants where the number Of
workers is large q responsible execu-
tive should be charged with the super
intendence of relations between the
workers and the management.
This was programme that has found
almost universal approval among the
press of the country. Says "The Buffalo
Express:
ave don't know what attitude the leaders
of organized labor will take toward the
proposition which has been recommended
to the Chamber of Commerce of the United
States, but we do know that if they are
wise they will make instant use of it. 1t.
with the principles az summarized, forms a
basis for action sucla as has never before