The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-08-28
$50 RECEIVED ;
At SALEFOR HIS
PRESENT FROM
FRENCH nation
Tapestry Frame Used by Marie
Antoinette Sold With
Cast-Off Stuff.
FIRST WlFE'S SKETCHES co
Collection Disposed Of on Leav-
ing the White House Is
Grabbed by Dealers.

The troublous life Of the un-
fortunate Marie Antoinette is re-
Elected in Washington today in the
sad fate of some of the Queens per-,
sonal property-until few months
ago in the White House drawing
room of Mrs. Woodrow Wilson
now marked by the inglorious stamp
of the auction block.
Through the Capitals antique mart
the famous tapestry frame once
graced by the dainty hands of Marie,
and presented to President and Mrs.
Wilson as a gift from the French
government, has passed into the dim
Interior OF Dealers garret.
Sold TO Dealer for $50.
I All for $40.
Though the actual transaction,
which occurred during the Wilson
exodus from the Executive Mansion.
was confirmed today, in the frightened
wake of the leak" came hurried ex-
preston of the belief that the sale of
a gift to the former President had
been through its mistaken inclusion
with other junk" of lesser intrinsic
and historical value disposed of by the
Wilson's last March.
Had 1t not been for the bungling Of
the agent hired by the ex.President
and Mrs. Wilson to sell fo-
them' anonymously, undesired articles
through the antique exchange of c. q
Sloan & Co., Inc. rs Thirteenth
street northwest, the sale of the VIII.
son art works would have remained
a dark secret of an unforgotten ad-
ministration.
Marks on Crates Removed.
With great care address marks on
crates, which had directed the articles
to the White House at the time OF
their donation. were removed from the
same crates, in which they arrived at
Sloan's. But the hurried effort to
eradicate signs of previous ownership
slipped on one label. and the news
quickly spread among the antique mer-
chants.
Then came a frenzied purchasing by
dealers and collectors mysteriously
furnished the tip, and in the exchange
of curios for gold the wise and the
unwise Jared strangely.
."I thought got some of the Wilson
stuff-when l bought" one collection
admitted yesterday. But have since
learned differently"
First Wife's Sketches Sold.
Among the articles auctioned were
several which had been the property
of Mr.. Wilson's first wife. These
included a sketching easel, unfin.
ished paintings and sketches, pal.
cites and paint brushes. These
articles were reported today to have
been obtained by a woman collector
for three dollars.
Mrs. Peter A. Drury, wife Of the
president of the Merchants National
Bank, is said to have bought
beaded bag, presented TO Mr.. and
Mrs. Wilson by Indians Of a Gov
ernment reservation.
Charles Lee Frank OF Glen Echo
is reported to have purchased sew
eral articles, among them a pair OF
hand-embroidered End beaded buck
skin gloves presented to President
Wilson by Indians. The gloves were
said TO have once borne a dedication
tag reading ITO Our Beloved Presi-
dent"
Edwin Kirk, OF the National Mu-
scum, who was keenly interested In
the auction, and especially In the
French antique. greatly desired to add
Il to the museums collection. Lack
OF funds for purchasing articles for
ithe museum, however, blocked its path
way to a dignified resting place.
"a great portion OF the articles were
packed In elaborate boxes, hideous in
their ornamentation, and rightly
classed as junk" said another ool-
Hector who attended the auction.