The San Francisco call. [volume], November 27, 1910, Page 16, Image 16

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
IS THIS THE WORLD'S CLEVEREST WOMAN?
Ccvveev of
THAT element of Washington so
ciety which Is so interwoven
with politics as to be national
and International in Its scope, is
esraln agog with the doings of the
cleverest member it has ever boasted.
Sirs. Alfred Clifford Barney, from the
vantage point of Paris, has gotten
'Washington again by the ears. This
time the thrill is not from the intro
duction of the religion of. Banal, nor
the dances of the far cast, nor the
spending of millions in architectural
richnesses of taste, nor the solution .of
the prison problem, though in all these
Sirs. Barney has reveled.
Washington awoke some days ago
and found on the lawn of Mrs. Barney's
unoccupied fashionable residence, the
"Deserted Ariadne." This was the'
nude Tstatue of a woman in repose,
magnificent In Its outlines, a .master
piece in Its execution. Washington,
being but an overgrown village in the
character of its citizenship and there
fore somewhat prudish, declared Itself
chocked and horrified. The populace
came to see the statue and with it came
friends and acquaintances of the fam
ily. From these the report spread that
the statue had been done in Paris by
Hiss Laura Alice Barney, the sculptress"
daughter of the clever Washington
\u25a0ociety leader, and that the younger
daughter, Miss Natalie, had been the
model for Its making. The fact of
these young women having grown up
largely in Washington lent color 'and
Interest to the story. Capital society,
has talked of nothing" else for a fort
nlglit.
It developed that the statue had been
placed on the lawn so that the weather
mijrht give it a certain tone that is
artistically desirable, and with no
thought of starting tongues to wag
ging. But right merrily <jid tongues
wag nevertheless. And the statue was
draped by the chief of police, kid-
naped by mischievous boys and borne
into a nearby public square, photo
graphed and variously and morbidly
viewed. Mrs. Barney has cabled her
disapproval and denials of the claim
that her daughter was the "original
of V.->c Ftatuev But withal, the weather
lng«of so magnificent a Ftatue has had
the effect of calling to the public 'mind
the other- -novel and eccentric feats of
this accomplished woman and a sum
ming up of them shows a tally of
originality and cleverness to Mrs. Bar
ney's credit that has rarely or never
been equaled.
Society's Fairy Godmother
Mrs. Alfred Clifford .Bsrney is the
fairy godmother of Washington society
and her home is its fairyland. She is
the most original of America's society
women. Unlike many of her dilettante
sisters of society, she has the quality
th.it leads on to accomplishment of
the things .which they .merely attempt.
Born In, the lap of fortune, daughter
of the late Albert Pike; of Cincinnati,
a millionaire member of that city's
Four Hundred, Mrs. Barney's lifelong
pursuit has been that of knowledge
end she has sought from the fountain
(sources .the • world ; : around. Even In
those early days, -when she' was the
belle of Cincinnati. -she .was noted : for
her originality^ and -early tendencies
were heightened by many years In Eu
rope and later study -in the far east.
t'ho married Albert Clifford Barney, .the
iiiiliiuiiairc -manufacturer, of concrete.
and with him game -to 'the capital in the
early nineties.; - / ; . .
While tha:leavlng of v the. nudestatue
practically in the open' street was per
haps the most daring, act of Mrs.
Barney's, unique career. It is not the
most original and "unconventional. ;. ; An
undoubteJ leader "of Washington ' so
ciety.'Mrs. Barney" contributed to' the'
cut and dried routine, of social life ."at
the capital' much of spice' and interest.
Her dinners and-entertainments-resem
ble fabled feasts of oriental legends
and the Arabian nights. " 1 The favored
guests to : these, L-ucullain banquets are
driven to, the ..million dollar: .studio
house 'designed 'by 'Mrs. .Barney herself,
which' \u25a0Is the home'- of, this -^clever
woman. L; They see a roomy' mansion of t
the Ilaliah. renaissance; type that; gives
out littje. hint .-of - the -beauties j inside.
Ushered in,, the: first sight .that greets
.the eye Is .& vestibule- carved 'out of
sandal' wood.*, wrii<ih;.cost; $50.000, 1 . and
which" fills, the house perpetually: with
Its fragrancel The woods of India'-cpnf
tributed this. * The guest .then '< passei
into a great \u25a0 banquet^' room \u25a0 walled in.
ebony, against the. blackness ;Of which
etand out priceless tapestries repre
senting the. loves of Daphne and, Chloe..
The replicas of walls^ of! fallen .Pompeii
ara in evidence" and 'the classic.; myths
run riot . everywhere, for this .is r fairy
land. *'.'-/• \u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0:••\u25a0 \u25a0\u25a0''\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0'.'.'\u25a0'. * i:x-J'i 'h-:',-
The house, ls but. a shell to-hold;its.
furnishings. % It>was designed arid -built
aboutthem instead of their" being fitted
into It. "And .'they were; the result of
a : life's study on • the part of ' a ; most
gifted woman. ' * '. y:\ ' ; ' .'
\u25a0 In the midst •of \ this ; richness 'on '( a
raised divan covered " jwlth'-; crimson
velvet Mrs. • Barnej'.Vdressed in ; a" -molli;
fled -Greek \u25a0 robe \u25a0-of; shadow rlsilk,^ the;
secret- of the; dyeing of ;; which- is -her
own, receives, her ; guests as',
did the ''.noble; Roman 'rtiatrons/"of \ old.
When' dinner is • s'eryejl^it ; . isKbrduglit.
In by. Indian servants, the ;guests like
wise reclining-' about v. the./ room In -the;
style of ancient Rome. ";.;-\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0\u25a0 \u25a0 : - :>\u25a0••*
Dame rumor has It that- after dinner '"
Mrs.. Barney often* 'dances * for /her
guests some of the .weird and
tine oriental : dances^that, sheyhasf also
given so . successfully j'in different' cos
tume: in her charity theatricals. Often
private ' theatricals are after dinner, fea- 1
tures and always! -"noted; artists? of .
voice "and 'Instrument \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0a're'*"onl,-handx to'
entertain the' distinguished 'gatherings..
Invitations." to Mrs.; Barney's;; dinners
are as sought after as;invitations_to the '
White : House, ; and, -diplomats say :. sub
rosa : that here; is . the'; horned of ' them', al.l •
in' Washington, where" 'an':; entertain
ment that is worth while may "always*.
be expected.-- ;\u25a0 '/" : ; '. -j-- r . Vi-.;i :,: >; '"-\u25a0 '-',- : :
\u25a0 The mysticism;ln,the;nature of Mrs.
Barney is shown even 1 in this^her social 1
side. "But religiously she "is -even •more'
interesting. .:To be- sure, 'Mr 6.: Barney;
came- originally: f rom vgood"; old>Preisby-»'
terian.stock, but early in .life .the lack
of color >in this - r'eli giori ' caused her to :
leave + it. ,; She -v tried -faiths in ;
Christianity,--; engaged «£ln\' '.their : groo'd'
\u25a0works "and \u25a0} gave rher' money and^tirrie '.'
freely';toV.them>'-: Still,; she' says.V her.
spiritual nature ; ? was unsatisfied.^ While,
traveling; through some' 'years
ago she met- a'priest of;Bahai; the,mod- ;
ern reiigioV;, of j that, "country, 'follower ;
of the prophet ' Bahai; r . who y claims $ for .
himself divinity^and; the right to "lead .
mankind. " ' .. J \u25a0 . "" , .-;^- -\u25a0''\u25a0'
Introducing a New Religion /;
\u0084 -Bahalsm :": is what': might be \ called - a
civic : Christianity. -"The good in' all;re-
llgions;.isiindorsed,*- but l manl; is t taught .
by. ; the eastern] doctrine thatthe^an- not
liy } c .to > himself,':" that ; ; he -must; relieve;
the suffering and * sin' of , the j world and '\u25a0\u25a0
that ; : he .5 must /, further. -.the ; progress \u25a0'\u25a0 of ':
education." -^Besides \u25a0• this i.rumor.'j'sayeth 1 .
that, jnany; old Lworld s secrets ;6f , sorcery,
and mysticism are \u25a0 taught by 'the -cult,
lt^issmair wonder Uiat the easer^minil
of thei clever irr?. V.Barney,- : .wearied tby)
society's 2.rtilicn and^dp^matic^ religion, i
should '-:"eagerjy, Y^embrade. «v« v this .'^new
wrinkle ,in reiigious\bellef.i^Wlth 'heri
daughter, fAI fceiithe; sculptress, '-"jshe / sa't 7
at 1 thejf eet ;ofi the master, for years -arid '
studied^. the'. mysteries ofHiisJteachihgs. ;
tost . :.to . social A sigh t/ J she X learned . to]
fast* and *pray and' conquer Jherself.Ji.;'.
V \Whether_ the Bahaista. saw \ the r adya.ri->
,tag-'eßofv'Ameri'can^millionsf.or^notii, tag-'e ß of v'Ameri'can^ millions f.or^notii is'
hard i to; say, ; but certain':it;is;that'Mrs.
\u25a0Barney j was » welcomed? and \taken * Into |
the very secretSiOf: the faith.*
order : and later-sent *jout fas fa mission- \
nry r irit6 the ereattwest/JReturnlhg: to :
;Washington»rShe*setJabout-rconverUng'
her : society 'frlendsHblher/sfrahgeVnewj
\u25a0 belief..-^ Her/dramatic *sense ', and'artistic >
; nature. ;enableilv -her': to*^bring;;great'
:chafm\to';theiprocess7of conye'rsiqn.Vand^
many, of , the^socJai Ueaders ': are": said* to <.
ha ye gone - overl \6i the ;riew religion. i;\
.;;, Mrs. Barney," set ¥up a* sort", of \ Pomt •
,Lo ma'S I n " Was ii l n gto n iln.t a , school i J o f
; Bahalsm, :, where - a \u25a0 Persian ".^priest"
teaches \ the 5~5 ~ rites -and : pri n ciples gto 'a
number;*" of Vrieophytes.-; Mrs. .'Barney,
pays »all bills "for * this school j^and :
carrier oh, a .regular /campaisn^in? re^*.
\u25a0cruiting '"stiiuents": for.'.it: "" \u25a0''-. •,. \u25a0'\u25a0'\u25a0 :;\u25a0?. - : ". .\u25a0'
- Initlifc tbinmerclalt-WorldrMr's; Bar
[ney;has shown i l) erself a ' woman'of 'rare j
ability.^ ,:Itt is; seldornNthat" the /business:
'sense 'is* f o und '; Infa^woraan^of: such * ar-,
tistic; temperament : as^hefs,
has "proven - herhelf^tp? be v one ?df' v the
cleverest business ..V..wbm'ehJ
by 'the^eyer.rswellirigi millions* she has'!
pUed^p^SWl^asl^^ll^^bp^iOffOsKyi
her^futher,'^/and"---h\isb*and,i\'andstnls^|
Vroquntihas; been fdoubled.ttwb v^of; three;:
times) through r her j own /• financial ; .op -j
erations. v i \u25a0:"'".'.', '. "-,".•\u25a0 . V 1-7
I ;It ."was "ywlth/*- keen -business '.acuinenj:
that she .some {years tagbl realized that;
fthjß/socJalj/s.eotion'jqf, \u25a0i.Washlri'gton^nju'sti
bej greatly -expanded'- in .'order } to 'accom-V
modateHhe ; ever-increasing, numbers 'of f
people";;Who
.building; homes,*.-, She <ln-|
plicate .; of :} the v f ashionable'f Dupont fjclr- *
cle Jand \u25a0 Sheridan f circle.? a< little? farther^
out. >.? She'boiight \u25a0 theJunimFrovedrprop-}
erty * " : thereabout*'ahd t\ built^her^ own]
;it.'7l This? residence JJbostlsi;ooo,ooo«ana,^
\u25a0 being fdesigned,by.JMr3^ißarriVyiher»clf,?
\u25a0set' the 'pace tor", the riew^ subdivision.''! -.*«•.*
:- ; Soonlher-friends Jaeganitp^take I little'
: Journeys, out; toj:see";the iriew* residence.v
She-was lalways? 6ns hand s tbVexpatiatet
onUhelbeauty/'Of^theJsite^and'soonlahe]
li'ad fsold t herj-lots \u25a0•and.-^what* isiinore,'
lni s J ; :aotteh' orders '.to build 'houses for ;
her: friends there ( arrer* ncr: otto- ac-
BignkJ .The. wealthy-. -Wyeths o* Phila
delphia!' '\u25a0'. the 'Frarfd&is Berge'r Morans
of ' Virginia. -the Norman*Williams.':dia
rtiond jnilllonaires'oC South '-Africa, were
am'onjfrMrs. Barriey : s.. customers ; -who
buTU "million *dollar> residences; which.
Bhe^'designed. • Presently .real ' estate
"<ljealers(awoke to the fact' that ja; clever
\u25a0woman' had, walked* off r with ;bij.e "of .the
"biggest ''plums that :tI»V- Washington
market \u25a0;ha<T-ever s offer6d'.\ 1 ; ,:*''\u25a0'•'\u25a0 '\u25a0'<*
:*<' Encouraged ' by" ,this .success,: -Mrs.
Barney?has taken"? up -embassy, building:
as -a.' specialty. For-the Latin" tielega-'
.tionsVtshe\.builds concrete villas and
spacious marble palaceslwith" the patloi
to ".which.they have -been accustomed.
Teutons - get -the ; sturdy jstone
that • spell homeland 'to them, and to
the Ifrom*. the /far/. east*: she
contributes- the 'oriental, color and se
clusioriv that - makes- the.- homesick- Mon
golian; forge? * his. isolation. -' AH'this Is
vastly profitable, but she". does \u25a0 not ad
mit^ the- : commercial? spirit/ back 1 "of it."
Oh;: no; 'indeed ; -all ? this lls done iir J th"e
interest 'of art- and -for »the, artistic. bet-,
terment'of the national capital.' for why.
should not - Washington .'be .'.made- the
mosttbeautiful city In 'the ;world? . ;. . \u25a0;
AVvVoman ; " of 'Letters "i ; V - "".
• -"As. a 'poet <anJ. playwright : Mrs.' -Bar
ney has-proven 'that she has a talent : of
.no'm'ean^ JegTee:\- Her \ versa hasr all"
. the . fervor* and -beauty of Saphb. "with
muttirof-th T e ' grace of -diction 'that >dis^
-.tlnguished- the Athenian' .wrlterl.-/. But
,it is as,a- playwright* that : Mrs. Barn 3y.
jherselfybelieves; that" she 'has the most
;talent;/ : <,. When"? Washington; ."society 'is
: anxious,' to^getfup > a -.play or -a ; series
'of/ tableaux- for ial'peflcharity.^the' call
THs S^^rancisco Sunday 'Call.
~~ * '••" \u25a0 ' 1 niii'ii 11 1 in* 11 11 ' 1 111 1 "*i "' fij'i
ffoes out to Mrs. Barney." She responds,
\u25a0writes the . play,- stages it. drills the-,
players, furnishes the costumes, acts I
as stage manager on the great night. '
and, If necessary,, and It usually, is
necessary, takes one of the star -roles
herself. Last year she wrote "The Man
ln ; the aioon.- a , fantastic tale, which
was. capably given by society actors
and realized many thousands of dol
lars- for. local charity. Then she ar
ranged a series of historical tableaux
for" .»»elghborh-oo\l: house, , in which the
biggest' men and women tn th» nation
took part. "With rare tact she endeav-^
ored to .'•• get each actor from some
family, of traditional connection with
.the part.
' -•Naturally .charitable, Mrs. Barney Is
a- philanthropist, of the first water.
But -she' believes In helping 'otfiers to
help themselves and always Insists In
co-operation: on. the part^of those aided.
"While In Persia some years ago, for
instance, she happened upon an ancient
secret of dyeing s.llk In* shadow colors,
•glorious variations'. of the rainbow. She
bought, the ' secret from the native
dyer,\took It to Paris and had an emi
nent' French chemist' experiment with
lt'after her own idea. -Finally she dis
covered a. dyeing secret by whYch silks
can be given, shadows or tints that
•graduate from the tone color. to its
most infinite variation. The silk la made
to look as if it is alive with light, and
•where it has been used on the "stage it
has I done 'away with • excessive stage
lighting, spotlights and other crude
.metho<ls of . making" the*, dress of a
dancer: express the moods of her dance.
A : Philanthropic Tnventor
; '. When Mrs. Barney returned to Wash
ington with her discovery she did not
-sellthls priceless secret to manufac- \
turers as .she might have done for .a i
good -sum, but she. took it down to '
Neighborhood i house and gave it away
to the social settlement there, so the
yoor v mothers and children from Europe
understand such artisan arts would
be. encouraged and'^helped toward
money. making through- the secret. So
"at "Neighborhood house they have beenV
dyeing; silk; and selling It to. the rich
of "Washington and other cities on a
"co-operative : plan %nd the poor mothers
and children of the slums are getting
the profit. " ,'.;„*,.'.',.
£vo successful has Xeijrhborhood house
been* with the shadow dyeing that Mrs.
Barney, has organized a committee of
which Mrs. Taft is a member, to se©
about .'the. plan before various
settlement houses throughout the coun
try. Thus', the; clever artistic skill o'
• the. European peasant women who have
come to grief .in tbl3. epuntry \u25a0will not
be lost but .turned, to koo<l account.
Another notable "philanthropic move
ment, fostered by Mrs. Barney Is that
of .taking prisoners out 'of unhealthful
confinement and, setting them to work
on government lan<!s raising fciodstufts.
A '* Successful 'Mother"
-\u25a0\u25a0.Nor is Mrs." Barney any less remark
able a mother ".than in other re»
rßpects.r Bpects. She has "two daughters who
arc no less clever than 'she. Miss Laur*
Alice Barney, the modeler of the statue
that has created the recent jensartion In
Washington. Is not only a sculptress,
but;. an artist as well.' ' She has many- .
1 paintings hanging on .the line of the
; Paris'.-salon ' acd is \u25a0 a -. prominent and
\u25a0 popular member of the art colony there.
iTo'be sure,- she is now giving most of
; her * time to ' the .teaching*, of the new "
religion; from Persia, but her work as
: ani-artist is still being carried on,
-Mis* Natalie "Barney. '-the alleged sub
jectof' the J statue'^ that ".has set Wash
ington nsrogr. is a "poet and Is also deep.
:'ly.in»^restfcd in Bahiaisra/ Both of th«
. young fgirls -have been given large iiW
" com^s by : their 7" mother and
f separate hou;«eho.lds" In Paris In whlft
bizarre and arti3ttc m.0043 have full
• sway.- . \u25a0V \u25a0' :\u25a0