The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-07
old OILS
70 RAISE FUND
FOR AUSTRIANS


At The Davenport public library
Monday, two interesting oil-paint-
ings, originals Of the i7th century.
are 70 be placed on exhibit by DR..
A. L. Hageboeck Of Davenport
Later, the paintings are to be sold,
the proceeds to be devoted entirely
70 aid thousands who are starving
ID Austria.
The owner OF the paintings Is an
Austrian writer, Madame Beatrice
Dc Way Dovsky. whom DR.. Hage-
bccck met years ago. when he was
studying medicine in Vienna, and
whom he assisted In the study OF
English. As q girl, and niece Of q
prominent newspaper editor IN
Vienna, Madame Dovsky amused
herself by writing editorials. and
theatrical and literary criticisms
for her uncle's paper. Later, after
her marriage, she took up writing
seriously.
she is the author OF the opera
Mona Lisa" which was played IN
New York by the Metropolitan
Opera company. and last year she
was awarded the authors prize OF
Austria.
since the war, her husband dead,
her private fortune demolished, she
is dependent solely on her writ
ings. The Empire theatre OF New
York city is at present preparing q
Translation of two Of her dramas,
10 be produced at that theatre, and
Madame DOvsky 10 also negotiating
with several film companies in this
country. The paintings are from
her private collection, have been IN
her family for years, and are to be
sold. not for herself, but to help
some Of her friends, who, as she
explains in a letter to DR.. Hage-
boeck, in which she asks him to sell
the pictures for her in this coun-
try. are striving for hunger. deli
cately called undernourishment.
State Takes Big Tax.
Owing to increased taxation, the
sale OF the paintings in Austria
would have necessitaed the pay
ment OF taxes for over hall the
amount. Although the expectation
from Austria OF works OF art is
exceedingly difficult, through a
friend in the Monuments Admins
tration, Madame Dovsky was en-
abled to secure . special permit for
sending the pictures to the United
States.
One Of the paintings is OF a
prominent Dutch master OF the 18th
century, . youth work Of PETER de
Hoogh, as stated by DR.. Hofstede
dc Groot, art connoisseur in the
Hague, and author Of Catalogue
OF Dutch Masters" The second
painting is Madonna, of the
school Of Bologne. also a 18th cen
tury painting. The frame OF the
Madonna is valuable, because it l.
On original old Italian frame.
Madame Dovsky's letter. quantity
expressed, is Of unusual interest
touching upon the really desperate
situation in Austria.
She says, THE situation is con
stantly inconstant. Every da!
brings . new surprise in a BAT
sense. The living is 200 times a.
expensive as before.
"Alas, the WARRIOR America 1
was not mainly q matter of hostilit!
and hate. After having brought t
end the terrible and endless cam
palgn. the American peORe en-.
deavor to help US. But the miser,
did penetrate too deeply; a who'll
generation, and old culture cente
arc going to perish. The distres
II growing day by day and there i
mott sign Of hope, not a sign tina
1t could be better. The people
once so goOd-hearted, easily salts
fed and Industrious has become de
moralized. In its misery it ha
lost its pride and shame. GU
\ Vadis? ! don't see any way t
salvation"