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26 August 1901 — Dolobran, Haverford, Pennsylvania | |
Monday. 26th [August 1901]. Breakfasted in my own room at 8 & wrote letters & worked at the Empress’ church tapestry & then dressed & went downstairs to the drawing room. Mr Griscom went off to his work at Pa. quite early. Went to the formal garden to see the water plants especially a water hyacinth from Florida which has there become such a weed in one of the big rivers that it has almost rendered it unnavigable & the Govt has had to take the thing in hand. After 5 o’cl tea Nellie went out riding with Pansie—& Mrs Bettle took me for a lovely drive in the Victoria—driven by “Augustus” the Irish coachman who has been here so many years in this family. We drove thro’ lovely country past the womens University & the R.C. college a huge ugly building testifying to the immense number of Irish emigrants who have settled in the country– Got back just in time for dinner. Mr Widener came to dinner & showed us the splendid illustrated catalogue of his own picture gallery which must be a magnificent thing. Having himself been a butcher & amassed enormous riches he began 25 years ago to learn about art by the help of one Johnstone an American barrister & has learnt a great deal about it. The old gentleman was delighted to show this catalogue saying something in praise of each picture– Of an old Dutch masterpiece he said “There look at that house—you can see each brick & the mortar between them!” & added that his daughter in law had said to a great connoisseur that she would like to learn how to know a good picture & he had answered her—“then look at this picture does that look like bricks now? & look at that paling does that look like wood”—well then if things are painted to look really like what they are that shows it is a good painting.” I noticed that as he came to each illustration he had to look at the letterpress to see who they were by—& then at once he seemed to recollect the special merits of the picture & discoursed on them. He left at 10.30 to drive back to his own home after having promised Nellie a copy of his catalogue for herself & having invited us all to spend next Sunday week the whole day with him in order to see his gallery. | |
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