Evening Star Newspaper, October 20, 1937, Page 3

. MONA LSk THET SLAD 10 POET Paris Writer Says D’Annun- zio Engineered Disappear- ance of Painting. Theft of the Mona Lisa, one of the “ world's most valuable paintings, from | & wall of the Louvre Museum 26 years ago iz alleged by a French writer to have been enginsered by Gabriel D'Annunzio, Italy's eccentric soldier- poet Charles Chasse, writing in the A. B. C. Magazine, Paris, said the one-sved poet “fell in love” with the Mona Lisa's tantalizing smile, but that after two years, however, he surrendered the treasure. Chasse said his allegations were borne out by D'Annunzio’s own admis- #ions in writing. The Mona Lisa. by Leonardo da Vinei, was stolen in 1811. A world- wide search was carried on until 1913, when it waa found in possession of an obscurs workman in Italy, Vincenzo Perrugia. | . Peruggia, tried in Florence, said he decided to steal the masterpiece while | he and other workman were placing & glass cover over the painting. The court. confident that Perrugia was only the dupe of some master crook, | gave him only a vear's prison term Chasse said he saw a manuscript At D'Annunzin’s home at Villa Vit- toriale entitied, “The Man Who Stole Mona Liza.” The manuscript has never been published Chasse said that the poet, whoee many ardent love affairs invelved such famous women as Eleonora Duse, for mer French aciress, wrote in another work, “Portrait of Loyse Bacearis D'Annunzio” “T recall when the suplime thief of Mona Lisa brought to my retreat at Archachon a panel wrapped in an old horse blanket. I recall I detested the soft, white hands of the Mona Lisa and was constrained to have them often under my eyes for days at a time.” Chasse said that in 1014 the poet told a French newspaper man. Jean Gabriel Lemoine, that it was possible to fall in love with the portrait of a woman and added “I know, for example, of one who fell in love with Mona Lisa, not with the present woman, who has lost all her color, but with what the Mona ‘Lua was. It was that man who caused her to be stolen.” MORNING HOLD-UP NETS BANDIT $200 Downtown Liquor Store Robbed During Rush Hour—Two Thugs Sought. While hundreds of downtown workers hurried to their jobs through the steady drizzle on the sidewalk outside, a heavy-set bandit strode into 8 liquor store at 720 Fourteenth street tnday and. brandishing a revolver, forced the proprietor to surrender £200 Milton Weissman, 30, of 5433 Thirty-first street had just opened the establishment, he told police, when . the man entered, pulled out a gun and demanded, “Where's the money?” The owner opened the cash register and the robber scooped up the $200 in bills. leaving several dollars in change. | As the bandit walked from the store mer started in the doorway and Weissman shouted, “That man held me up!” The prospective customer followed the robber around the corner to New York avenue, where the man stepped into a sedan driven by an accomplice and sped away. Meanwhile, police have arrested and are holding for investigation five men in connection with the $2,000 robbery Monday of a People’s Drug Store messenger at North Capitol street and Florida avenue. The money was taken by a shabbily dressed colored man who knocked the messenger from his bi- cvele as he was on his way to a bank. JThe thief fled on a freight train Four of the men under arrest are colored. Police today also were on the look- out for two colored bandits, believed to be responsible for a series of hold- ups Iast night and early today. The pair robbed Bennie Cohen, gro- cery proprietor at 1001 Pirst street } | Children at the Sidwell Friends School looking over picture sets in the appreciation of Alice Machlis and Charles Don- | art campaign | aldson. sponsored by The Left to right, sitting: Edwin Ahrens, Abby Willard, Mollie | Standing: Richard Erhardt and Thomas Logge.jr. THE EVENING Star. Seated on the floor: Stories of the Masters LEONARDO BY HOWARD SIMON. | N THE vear 1452 Ser Piero da Vinci was apprised of the birth of his natural son. The mother Cath- erine, a young peasant girl. allowed him for a consideration to take the child to hia igposing villa, already occupied by numerous half-sisters and half-brother | | Signs of Leonardo’s singular genius were apparent early in his life. The proud father, after he had marveled At his son’s draw- | ings. showed them to his friend, the | tamed painter and | sculptor. Verro- chin. He advised ser Piero to allow [ | the boy to study with him at once. In his studio | inspired by Ver- | rochio’s inventive mind, the boy. Leonardo, tried his fledgling tal- | ent. which was to prove one of the most extraordinary in the history of man and of art. Verrochio was com- missioned by the monks of Vallombrosa to paint & picture of the Baptism. Christ stands in the river looking downward, his hands croased in prayer. To the right two angels may be seen, while on the left St. John is in the act of baptizing. The kneeling angel is the finest figure in the painting. | The story goes that “Leonardo painted an angel kneeling, so superior to his master’s that Verrochio never again touched a brush.” Of all Leo- nardo’s other early works none can be identified. and these must be given | up for lost. though we have minute | descriptions of & missing shield, | painted at his father's request, in the | form of a Medusa, “a hideous and appalling monster breathing poison | and flames, and surrounded by an atmosphere of fire.” New Approach to Perfection. It was the most fruitful period in all the history of Tuscany. Not since | the art of Greece, under the hand of Pericles, had reached its full flower did a people again come 2o close to perfection in the arta. In 1480, Il Moro Lodovice Bforza became regent of Milan, grasping with | one tyrant’s hand the tight reins of cruelty and vindictiveneas, while with the other, palm extended, he chose to| | play the philanthropist and protector | of the arta and aciences. Leonardo | | seems not to have been fooled by his pacific gedtures and wishing to enter | Howard Sim | enough | Lisa.” the third DA VINCI the varied talents of the genius of Leonardo. Engineering, the planning of court festivities, the making of Altar pleces were thenceforward his concern, but of all this enormous activity we have only the word of his contempo- raries, who apeak of their glorles ‘The scope of his genius was wide | to include the aciences as well as the arts. At a time when the church taught the sacredness of the human corpse and punished aa sacri- lege those who had the temerity to use the anatomist’s scalpel, Teonardo told his students: “In order to ob- tain an exact knowledge (of the arm) ! I have dissected more than 10 human bodies.” “Mon. Lisa” His Masterpiece. Tt was in 1504 that the most fa- mous portrait in the hiatory of art | was completed. For four years he labored on this picture of ““Mona | wife of Zanobi del Gioconda. It is not the wonderful painting of the figure and head that has given it immortality. nor the grace of her posture, nor even the plastic delicacy with which the beautiful landscape is handled. but it is the pleasing And seemingly fleeting expres- sion that has defied description | through the centuries. Only.a few vears later Francis the Firat pald the enormous sum of 4.000 florins for the “Mona Lisa.” Yet Leonardo. who saw 80 deeply into the souls of women and painted them with a perfection not again given to man. had no love affair in his life—et least there is no word of a beloved in his note books. The figure of Leonardo, baautiful in person, wandered through the courts | of the reigning monarchs improviaing songs upon & lute fashioned by him- | self. He scored specialization and embodied the whole of the learning and art of the Renaissance. To take stock of his knowledge, as shown in his voluminous note books. ia to cover the learning of his own time and to explore the future. Suspected of Black Magic. He studied trees and the formation of rocks; herds and flowers, rivers and the sun, the movement of the eartn, | and on one drawing he wrote in a large bold hand, “The sun does not move.” He wrote a long and detailed account oif the flight of birds, and anticipated the airplane. His repu- tation among his contemporaries be- | Steamed Connecticut STAR Friends Art Class Studies Star Prints | the unusual | hideous heads of hanged criminals, D. ¢, WEDNESDAY 200,000 EXPECTED ATNAVY DAY FETE New Features Are Planned | for 1937 Show, “Bigger Than Ever.” The Washington Navy Yard expects to be host to more than 200,000 per sona & week from today—Navy day. the birthday anniversary of Theodor: Roosevelt., Rear Admiral George T. Pettenglll, | the commandant, and his colleagues | have plannad several new features for this year's abdw, which they promise will be “bigger than ever." Added attractions for 1837 Navy! day here include Marine Corps calls by massed huglers, who will sound the | various drills of the famous Devil | Dogs. King Neptune and his court— a sight usually reserved for the priv- ileged few who ‘cross the line —pass- ing the Equator, to landlubbers—will | be on display for the veriest lands- | man, | Boata in Sham Battle, Thia year'a sham battle, for the first time will call into play boats as well as land and air forces, officials de- clared. Marine Corps flyers from Quantico, Va., will give an exhthition of their aerial acrobatics as well as participate in the “engagement.” There will be a series of band con- certa throughout the day; drills of va- rious deacriptions, a model Marine | Corps camp, cloas-up of how deep-aea divers work, put on by the diving unit here; various forginga in the lofty shops where the Navy's big guns are constructed and different exhibita of Goodrich and Beverly Baldwin. | mf‘.:sm”‘"" d:'h" i”'sml:‘ h;"‘ —_Star Staff Photo. new gunboat U. 8. Erle is '_ | expected to reach the Washington { Navy Yard on Monday, to be here over came fabulous and even siniater. This | Navy day. This vessel will be open searcher for truth was suapected of to the public. wielding black magic | The Coast Guard is co-operating He filled note books with sketthes, | with the Navy in the celebration of that he encountered— NAvy day. The Treasury Department | will send to the Washington Navy | Yard the Coast Guard cutter Bibh pressive gesticulations of deaf-mutes, | from Norfolk, Va. and two 75-foot “The Last Supper.” the painting patrol boats. The Coast Guardsmen that placed Leonardo above all other | will give demonstrations of breeches Kreat painters, was completed in 1487, | buoy rescue work from a vessel in dis- after three years of labor. In Leon- | tress, capsizing and other drilis. ardo's own time, even while it was| Celebration Ashore and Afloat. being painted, 1t hal already become | President Rooaevelt and Secretary WASHINGTON, beautiful women and men, the ex- | & wonder, spoken of with hushed | Swanson are expected to issiie suitable statementa for Navy day and the cele- bration will be held ashore and afloat. before his death, Francis the First, | Prominedt rear admirals will deliver King of France, begged him to come, Addresses over the radlo and to In Touraine. in his old age, his crea- | Audiences in different sections of the tive energy spent. his hands paralyzed, | Nation he resigned himself to death. specula- | _8pecial programs are being prepared tive to the Iast. “When I thought [ fOf the event, fllustrated with various was learning how to live, I had only | Views of the vard. and there will been learning how to die.” he wrote. likely be miniature naval guns n sale, (Copyright. 14 if the program of previous vears is s S b | followed, to aid naval widows and | orphans. RECTORY LOOTED | i et — Dill and Pickle Meet. WEST CHESTER. Pa. October 20 (#).—Names made the news in a harm- less automobile collision here. One car's driver was Donald Dill: | At the wheel of the other was James Pickle. breath In his sixtv-fourth year, three years | SEAT PLEASANT, Md.. October 20.} —Prince Georges County police Are looking for the burglar who early ves- terday broke into the home of Father J. J. Corbett on Chapel road here, ransacking the first-floor rooms, open- ing the rectory safe and leaving with only an overcoat for loot | Father Corbett told Prince Georges County Policeman Edwin C. Cissel, | who investigated, that the burglar had not damaged the safe, but that when he awoke yesterday morning | furniture had been moved, clothing tossed about and everything indicated A thorough search of the house Nothing of value was in the safe, it was reported. P.-T. A. ORGANIZES MONTGOMERY HILLS. Md., Octo- ber 20 “(8pecial).—An organization meeting of the Parent-Teacher As- sociation of the Montgomery Hills Junior High School was heid Iast night. A constitution and by-laws | were adopted and permanent officers elected. Rhees E. Burket acted as temporary chairman. Officers are Mrs. Harry Atherton, president; Mrs. Frank McElhaney, vice president; Mrs. Hylton Brown, secretary, and Fernand F. Burdick, treasurer. The Nominating Commit- tee presenting the slate was headed by Mrs, James T. Reside. Sold, Installed, Serviced and Guaranteed by L. P.STEUART & BRO., INC. 139 12th ST NE LINCOLN 1300 " ESTABLISHED 1365 @ COULEE DAM A Monument to Science And fair-dealing is @ monu- ment to sound business ethics. Barker started this policy over 72 years ogo and as far as Barker is concerned, it will re- Get main forever. Barker prices! . GEO. M. BARKER ;, ¢ COMPANY ¢ Repair Parts ||. STOVES FURNACES OCTOBER JOHN W. MORRISON, Mayor of Harrisonburg, Va. MAYOR IS FOUND HENRY MENTIONED AS FRENCH ENVOY Counselor at Embassy Here | with his plans. LANBY RSTOL Body of Harrisonburg Offi- cial Discovered in Field, Automatic by Side. By the Associnted Prass HARRISONBURG. Va. October 20, ~-The body of Mayor John W. Morri- son of Harrisonburg, missing Aince Monday, was found today under an Apple tree on the farm of M. L. Pence, near Rockland Mill. There was a bullet hole in the right temple and a 38-caliber Automatic pistol was on the ground beside the body J. N. Crawn of Mount Solon dis- covered the body as he crossed a field near where State and city police had been aearching since an automoblle belonging to the 8l-vear-old Mayor and Republican member of the House of Delegates was found ditched at Spader’s Church The body was about 5 miles from the place where the automobile Wwas found and near where the Mavor was last aeen After getting a ride on the highway. The body was lving in & porition which indicated the Mayor sat down on a log beside the tree ! ‘The spot is about 500 vards from the North River, where police searched until long after darkness last night. Little Part in World War. China, though a member of the allied forces, took little part in the World War, due to internal struggles ENGLISH COUNTRY LIFE IN SUNNY -/Q/s restful or as zestful as you like. From its original conception in 1895, Pinchurst has preserved a warm, friendly little community, free from pretense and formality. You'll find no “resort” at- mosphere at Pinehurs, it is casual, leisurely and peaceful. The five hos- pitable hotels, in the true Southernt tradition, have definite concern for your comfort. Overnight in thru Pullmans vis Seaboard Railway. Lv. Washington 10:35 P.M,, arrive Pinehurst 8 A M. Low round trip fares. Ship your aute by rail at low cost. S and tnformation. write Pinehurst, N. C. For hooklet W General Office, eouthwest, of $10. TWo men, ANAWer- | piy gervice wrote an amasing document | ing the same descriptions, held up | recommending himself. In this cata- Francis D. 8ly, deliveryman for & | jogue of accomplishments Leonardo is liquor atore at 2000 Eighteenth street, | revealed as the inventor of tank war- 83 he was making two deliveries in the | fare of poison gas, and tunnel excava- 1700 block of S street and robbed him | tion besides being & first-class archi- of $19 and a pint of whisky. | tect, sculptor and “In painting also 1| They struck again early today, rob- | can do what may be done, as well as | bing Chester Jordan, operator of & any other, whosoever he may be.” filling atation at 300 M street south- It seems strange that he should have east, of $20. Jordan said he was “pos- | neglected to mention his virtuosity on itive” they were the same two who | the lute, for it was this accomplish- held him up last week and took $40. | ment which had first brought him to He said his station has been robbed | the attention of the duke. The duke “aix or seven times before.” | welcomed him, for he could profit by 15 Allowance for Your 'Old Cook Stove Toward the Purchase of a UNIVERSAL Electric Range—! Plus A 3-piece aluminum cooking set Free. 5 Plus Low payments on our “Few Pennies a Day” Plan. This offer until October 31, Only! CALL US NOW-Don’t Delay! W. F. HUMMER & SON 802 B Street N.E. Telephone Lincoln 5800 BOILERS Most Complete Stock in the City Fries, Beall & Sharp 734 10th St. NW. Soft Clams ESTABLISHED 1838 Alr Conditioned. Blackstone (igar nnracro, 3 /6 234 CABINET OR LONDRES, 10} PANITIA, 2 /‘ A and MILLWORK Ave. N.W. 7 || OVERNIGHT 8Y TRAIN FROM WASHINGTON Add a touch of smartness to the room. The Shade Shop is where most Washingtonians buy their Venetians, because we carry the largest assort- ment. Phone District 3324 for an estimate. w.stokes sammons THE SHADE SHOP 830 THIRTEENTH ST . W. Pnehurst NOW I EAT Hamburger [ Upset Stomach Goes ‘ in Jifly_with Bell-ans ; | FOR INDIGESTION {2 Reported Likely to Suc- ceed Bonnet. ‘The name of Jules Henry, counse- Jor of the French Embasay in Wash- ington, 18 now prominently mentioned in Paris as succeasor to Georges Bon- net as French Ambassador to the United States. | The foreign office haa delayed ap- | pointment of a successor to Bonnet | because he had considered return- ing to Washington in the event things did not go in France in accordance Last week, however, he decided to hoild on and has now released the Washington post. The French government is at this moment most. particular about its representative in the United States. The Quai d'Orsay realizes A good deal depends on what kind of a man it has in Washington. It wants a diplomat who is not only persona grata with the State Department, but also one who understands the Amer- | ican people and has sufficient rela- | tions in this country to impress Prance’s point of view. According to a Paris dispa‘ch from Pertinax, who is always well informed in foreign office matters, there are two men in the ambassadorial race, Jules Henry and Gabriel Puaux, French Minister to Vienna Although Henry 18 junior to Puaux an important matter with the Quai d'Orsay—influential men are support- ing his appointment. saying the red tape ought to be dispensed with and the best man should be appointed to an Important post regardless of age Pertinax cables: “Henry would have obvious advantage of an inti- mate acquaintance with the Ameri- can politieal world and on manv occasions has been praised by the foreign office for the manner in which he has discharged his duties.” - LAWYERS’ BRIEFS] & COMMERCIAL PRIRTING § ADVERTISING SERVICE + BYRON S. 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