The Washington times., 1924-05-29
HAVE
GREATSTROKE
OF LUCK

/
Pick Up Masterpiece for
the Proverbial
Song.
The news that Anton Heitmuller,
Washington art dealer. had discov.
cred what is thought to be a genu.
inc. Rubens in lot of old pictures
and furniture sent him to be dis.
posed Of, calls to mind a similar
experience of Mr.. and Mrs. J. VIII.
mer Biddle, Of Philadelphia and
Baltimore, who arrived today to
visit Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Tucker.
man. The story goes that during
recent trip to Europe they were
searching Christie's and other ia
nous London dealers for some old
pictures to adorn a certain room
or gallery in their house. They
could not find exactly what they
had in mind until an obliging
dealer directed that to an old
manor house deep in the country
where a private sale was being
held. Their haste was too great
to really study the paintings very
closely or to secure expert N6Vice,
but there were several which saem.
ed suitable for what they had in
mind, so they made on offer, seem.
ingly generous, for the entire col.
lection. which was snapped up at
once.
The pictures were packed and
shipped Immediately to this country,
SO it was not until some months
later that they discovered that
they had secured a genuine Rem.
brandt for the proverbial song. They
have already been offered--I fear
to say how much, but 1t was many
times the original cost Of the whole
lot-for the picture, but refuse to
part with their treasure and be-
sides have been informed by con.
noisseurs that the offer, fabulous
as it seemed, was way below the
actual value Of the painting.
Well Known in Washington
Before Marriage to PhilAdclphiAn.
1t will be remembered that before
her marriage to the distinguished
Philadelphia Mrs. Biddle was Mrs.
Douglas Gordon, Of Baltimore. Her
first husband, who died many years
ago, was a brother of the late
Basil Gordon, whose widow is now
Mrs. George Barnett, and conse-
quently Mrs. Biddle's daughters are
first cousins Of Mrs. Barnett's
daughters, Anne Gordon and her
sister, Leila, now Mrs. Robert
Dickey, jr., and have frequently
visited them here.
Mr. and Mrs. Biddle were here
recently for a few days, coming
over to attend the wedding Of Miss
Anna Montgomery and James New.
man Carter, jr.. Of Philadelphia
the latter an old friend Of theirs,
and were at the horse show one
afternoon, guests Of Mr.. and Mrs,
Walter Tuckerman. Everyone was
asking who Mrs. Tuckerman's hand.
some guest might be, for she is
radiantly lovely person and was
most effectively gowned, all in
black.
The Biddles have spent most Of
their time in Philadelphia since
their marriage, but also maintain a
residence in Baltimore, Mrs. Biddle's
old home. believe they are going
abroad this summer. They are only
with Mr.. and Mrs. Tuckerman for
day or two, having come over
especially to attend the White
House garden party with their hosts.
MRS. WHITE HOSTESS
AT LUNCHEON TODAY.
Mrs. Wallace H, White. IT.. enter.
tanned some forty guests at a but.
fet luncheon at her home today, the
company including the present
board OF governors of the Congress.
slonal Club and past board, Of
which the hostess was a member, a
number OF New England women Of
the Congressional contingent and
several visitors from other cities
who are on the eve Of leaving
town. Among those present were
Mrs. George H. Moses, Mr.. Mrs.
James e. Watson. Mrs. Finis J.
Garrett, Mrs. Frank w. Mondell.
Mrs. Philip Pitt Campbell, Mrs.
John H. Bartlett, Mrs. Allen 4.
Treadway, Mrs. e. C. Plummer,
Mrs. Henry Dawes, Mrs. J. Butler
Wright, Mrs. Harry Bradley, Of
Wheeling, and Mrs. O'Rourke, Of
New York, who is visiting her
sister, Mrs. Edmund Platt.
Mrs. White will leave Washing.
ton next week to visit her son.in-
law and daughter, Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Rownd, in Wheeling and
afterward will motor to Maine. She
expects to return to Washington,
where Congressman White will be
detained for the present, later in
the summer.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Lowman,
who have given up their house in
Connecticut avenue, and Harry
Lowman, jr., are leaving Washing.
ton tomorrow for Atlantic City.
Mr.. Lowman will return to town
early next week, Mrs. Lowman and
her SON remaining several weeks
longef. They have taken an apart.
ment which they win occupy ON
their return.