Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1931-06-19
VILLA,
A HOUSE
THAT CAME
TO LIFE
sx****%
By FANNIE HURST
(@ by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.D
(WNIJ ServiceN

(WNU Service.)
"HE terrace upon which Miss
Eustacia de Lima sat each eve
Il ming was regarded, by all for
tunate enough ever to have trod
Its perfect turf, as one Of the most
exquisite and commanding of all Eu-
rope. 1t hung, this terrace, over the
gray-green slopes of Fiesole, which
commands that view of the city of
Florence which spreads like lady's
proud fan at its feet.
Not even in the days Of its original
owners, Fifteenth century Medlcis,
had this terrace boosted its present
perfection. Carefully restored by its
American owner from the OvergrOwn
condition in which she found 1t. back
to a sembance of what must have
been its original pattern, Eustacia had
added subtly, and with conservatism,
to its bloom and geometric scheme of
plants and walks.
Approaching the villa Fiesole. half
mile of slender and precise Italian
poplars, as straight and narrow and
rigid as tall spears, pointed the way
to the villa. Once at the top of this
battalion of poplars, the terrace and
villa, and all its incredible view. burst
upon the beholder. h
1t was said In some of the guide
books that its wealthy owner, Miss
De Lima, had set about to make this
villa the most glorious in all Europe.
After while, of course, as her sue
cess came to be noised about and
friends, acQuaintances, and sightseers
came from distances to behold the per
lection of her dwelling place, its
Identification blossomed into her hob
by. Her only motive for ever leaving
it, her only desires, were that she
might gather within its massive walls
treasures that might enhance Its glow
ing beauty.
How well she succeeded is further
attested by the fact that out Of defer
ence to her outstanding achievement
in the way Of perpetuating and ideal
izing landmark, the government hon
Ored Miss tie Lima.
Fiesole villa became twice over the
target 1t had ever been for the sight
seeing thousands who annually
crowded In for the feasts of beauty
Florence had to offer them.
1t was after the acknowledgment of
the government that Miss de Lima de-
cided to throw open her gardens one
day week for the further enjoyment
of those who came peering through the
grill-work of her handsome gates
Guards were Installed at intervals
throughout the gardens and parks, turf
was chained off where need be to
protect 1t from needless intrusion and
the general public was thus admitted
to one of the show villas Of all Eu-
rope.
On this day each week Miss de
Lima kept carefully to her chambers,
moving about with ceaseless enjoy
teenth, Sixteenth, and even Thirteenth
century objects of furniture and art
that she had collected with such low.
ing care 1t was as II these objects,
packed to their very timbers with
memories of turbulent and picturesque
yesterdays were live and breathing
companions. Each one had a history,
Of which she was most carefully
aware. Here, the elaborate carved
he'd in which a Fifteenth century Doge
had slept. Here, Gothic chest of
Incredible associations. Here, paint
ing by Rubens that was laden with
reminders of his early life.
For twelve years Miss de Lime,
growing older, more fragile, more re-
mOtely associated with the bygOne
centuries she loved, dwelt in the midst
of the luxury of beauty, sharing 1t,
to some extent with the public, but for
the most part, drinking her pleasure
and her tea alone, on her terrace, at
sunset: strolling, with her two lean
wolfhounds, through her gardens,
olive groves and leafy hlllsides at
dusk; spending long hours In arrange
ment and Encouragement Of the rows
OF chambers: tending and caring for
a bit of cracking wood or maj0llca as
II It had been living thing; loving
her solitude, glorying In the beauty
of this solitude with which she was
able to surround herself.
Gradually, as this began to pail a
bit, Miss de Lima allowed herself the
luxury of invading friends. who came
eagerly to share these blessings with
her. But after a while, II seemed to
Miss de Lima the pecklng curiosity
her visitors brought with them, the
restlessness. the desire for bridge and
pastlmes, after the first few hours OF
xclaiming delight had worn Off, desc.
Grated, In way, the crystal sllences
Of her villa. and so she relapsed Into
solltude-solitude among hanging gar.
dens and struttlng peacocks and tiny
Kissing waterfalls.
"Selfish I" said her friends. Some
thing Of this awareness must also
have struck Miss de Lima, because
after a while, prompted by com.
bInatlon of ennui and sense Of duty,
she arranged that the villa be open
to the public ngaln. two days q week
In way, that served to increase her
Isolation bechuse It meant that add.
tlonal hours must be spent indoors,
prowllng among her obJets dart.
II was with something akin to un-
pleasant surprise that Miss de Lima
na4n To u,p".'ian1 hor7alf In what
.s,, ,......r 20 hr her habit Of peering