The Washington times., 1922-03-19


different articles of fancy were
carried In vast silk-lined reposi.
tory and distributed by Baron
Morpurgo among the guests with
a gesture recalling divine Jupiter
falling in a golden shower in the
white arms OF modern Danas.
The last magnificent figure was
that of Donna Elsie Torionia.
who appeared radiant in youth
and beauty in the sudden dark
ness which enveloped the room
and who in turn distributed rare
and exotic flowers from an I'm
mense corbeille borne by pages"
The conflict dates back to last
summer. when the dollar duch-
ess" commissioned Count Iowa
tell to preserve her beauty in
marble. He began work at once
in his studio There were many
sittings. Often the subject was
accompanied by General Garibaldi,
grandson Of the famous hberator.
who was posing for a bust.
When the work was completed
and exhibited in the counts stu
do 1t excited the admiring COM
ment Of Rome's art critics. They
declared that the sculptor had
succeeded in imparting to the
marble real warmth and had por-
trayed in the duchess face and
carriage the indomitable and con-
quering spirit OF the western
world In which she was reared.
DUKE SPURNS BILL.
The count sent lis BILL. The
duke spurned 1t. The duke Of.
fered $35 in fun payment. Count
Lovateln told friends that II an
American girl was willing to pay
millions for q duke of advancing
years there should be no hesitancs
about meeting his bill. He dis.
played bills showing that the mar
BILE In its raw state had cost him
more than the money N. duke
offered for tho completed work.
The duke was obdurate. So tho
count went to work with his chisol
again. He worked secretly bu. per-
sistently. And when he had done
he invited tho same critics 20 his
studio. They were aghast and
amused The work Of art hAf
been transformed In a few expert
strokes into q caricature. The "in-
domitable spirit Of tho " stern
world" had been removed. The
face had been made a composite
Of horrible features.
An ornamental lily had disap-
peared from the right hand. In it's
stead stuck forth an American
dollar. All Rome buxzed with the
gossip.
DUCHESS EFFORTS VAIN.
OF course tho American durhess
was chagrined. She tried. indi.
rectly, to buy the caricature. Fer
agents offered sums many timeC
that which tho count once had
hoped to get for the original STATUE.
But the sculptor was having 4 de-
termined revenge and he would
not sell at any price. He threat
ened, indeed. to place the statue oil
display in a store window ~ . msr-
chandise advertisement.
The feud waved bitter and in
tense. Friends Of both took sides
and society in Rome split into fas-
tons.
Thus It was that the clash on
the night OF the ball was certain
to take place. For two or three
hours nothing transpired. Then
the guests turned startled syss
upon the two men.
The white gloves in tho counts
hand suddenly whistled through
the air. leaving . scarlet streak
across the dukes swarthy cl.eek.
The noted sculptor at tbs salAs
time flung his fingers into the
black, silken beard OF his antag
onist.
SHOUTS FOR REVENGE.
Women In iow-necked gowns and
long trains. clad in diamonds and
ropes of pearls. excitedly drew back
from the struggling pair. MN in
the room separated the fighters and
turned them over to their r.spee-
tive friends.
Count Lovatelli, shouting for tho
dukes life blood, was carried from;
the room. still struggling to get at
his opponent.
The hysterical duchess hurriedly
withdrew In shame and anger.
weeping in the arms of consolins