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Show mult of Twenty-thirstreet, with Its indolent or hurrying shoppers and their restless humors of the cheapjack toys along the sidewalk, easily reaches he ear. On the Twenty-fourtstreet side the eye sees only an everyday row of monotonous looking houses, no uglier or shabbier than a hundred rows exactly like them from which the bright tide of fashion has drifted away forever, if an artist wished to por-tra thoroughly commonplace street, without a hint of romance or a touch to fire the imagination, he could find no better scene. And It was just this setting of almost ostentatious respectability, of the stablest and least Inviting propriety, that Stanford hlte chose to use as a curtain behind which he could set his private stage as he willed, could intoxicate himself with a riotous luxury of sensual beauty and extravagant display and teach their sorry parts to the puppets he introduced there without fear of interruption or discovery. There vice, decked in her bravest purple and ctimson, mocked at the print gray form of virtue's gru gown that sheltered All- her and let her live. It was as if a dancing hall from Paris should be -Se- found hidden among the elms in the churchyard of some little New England village. Entrance to the Glided Den. Here is Evelyn Thaw's description of her first visit to the place: "We stopped at a dingy lodging other men he would bud no hint to house and, as we passed inside, the lead him to that of Stanford White. That gilded temple of the senses stands apart, a house almost within a house, inclosed within two rows of other houses with blank waiis on all Bides to shut it off from all view and observation. It was a place used only in the night time and. with no need for the light of day, ordinary windows and their outlook had no place in the designer's plan. Only a secret, passage, cunningly walled ofT in the main house fronting on Twenty-fourtstreet, could it be reached, and only through a secret door which slid open at the touch of a hidden spring could friend or visitor enter that passage. Belong to Other Days. d !e Hidden Studio in New York Where Stanford White Entertained fan of His Stripe in Ways That Rivaled Days of Fabled Eastern 'arefally Luxury- T:, It, fas House Within I.C; Wjl Light of Day Never Was owed to Penetrate Only by cret Passages Could Entrance Be ith the Gained. S, - Ever York. NVt since Eve-Kesb- if l.; Thaw told her story stand so that witness whether its judge might uen enough to turn a husband Jijeven before that, ever since the Ml ,iol Ml l; that killed Stanford White shot let loose on the ears of men of revel and debauch stories utlese ghosts 0 only legions of shameful "WA left to guard the memory of dead architect, curiosity has been h awn Irresistibly to Whites Twenty-artIt is the place street studio. stories told were icb. If half the White bad dedicated to that part j, til life which ultimately led him to death the place where he played de with a few depraved companions St a a House Where June :t Si 1 i !! to all the rest of the world he and an envied u a distinguished syll; a place which was a heaven of to report, auty, and also, according sin. J No other spot in New York has so the Imaginations of thousands. at once such gossip and yet so terly unknown, such a closed mys-to all. And stripped of ;ch of Its mystery and of all the amour and lure of its wonderful enures of art, with only the dull :er walls left to give mute testl-u- j to the reality of the wild scenes r once sheltetred, it remains with-- r a parallel In the history of this or 7 other modern city. Other spot has been commonplace of 7 to-da- I vly Concealed. Welt a suite of rooms or not Just It Is floors of a house cleverly tected from tte observation' or of other tenants. Still less is an ordinary house, the windows of ich, however thickly curtained 1 screened, must still look down on e or more n the street below and be turn to the curious gaze in jiers-b- in and all posed any w cared to raise their ho idi Ton may have trouble to And this trc," Wrote Harry Thaw when he t appealed to Comstock the Society for ' to put a stop d Anthony the Suppression of to the Infamous worked with the architect for a sohd week on the fairy-talscheme. "It cannot be done, was his own appalled objection when the plan first was unfolded. "We will do It, suld Stanford White; and no conception proved too novel, no price too high, for his fancy and genius to overcome. It was In this room that the great white bearskin was spread on which Evelyn Nes-bi- t posed for some of her best known pictures, and here were gorgeous rose Du llurry portieres, curiously carved pieces of teakwood and Japanese furniture, rare luce curtains, screens Inlaid with ivory, and huge old cedar chests carved deep with elephant' heads, with Ivory tusks sot In. Priceless rugs were on the floor, from Khorassan and Serrebend, from Bokhara and Tabriz, and on the walls were paintings by Rubens and Gerome and Millais and Bourglono. White's Most Private Studio. On the floor above was a smaller studio, fitted up with the same royal magnificence. This was the room with the red velvet swing and the big Japanese umbrella In the celling through which the feet of the swinger crashed when strong arms pushed her high. Here White had his ordinary living rooms, bedrooms and dressing-rooms- . On the floor above, reached by a tiny back stairway, of which few Indeed knew the secret, was a studio almost a boudoir smaller and daintier still. Back of this, separated by curtains of heavy tapestries, was the e gold-cruste- wmw STim To iN0T0GRAPH 'kich he said were carried btt I,H hi, 1,1 WBll; "you may have w11 for 11 ,hl1 place ' Sealed . rrh hi hid v 1 ' though a nvr n1 ll,Kl .,, fr number he might flnJ lt 0,n Hulled the address No stranger In d The studio is situated in the small open court that lies between the rears of the houses on Twenty-thirand Twenty-fourtstreets. As it stands dismantled and untenanted, It would make an ideal haunt for kidnapers or counterfeiters, or any of the other desperate plotters who figure so largely in romantic novels, and for this reason, even in its present, its most commonplace aspect, it seems to belong to medieval days, an age younger by centuries than busy, practical, modern New York. But as it was when Stanford White was the presiding genius there, lavishing all the brilliancy of his perverted fancy on nightly entertainments so bizarre that no roue was so jaded that he did not eagerly seek an invitation to attend, it. belonged to the days of fabled eastern luxury and splendor, the days of the Arabian Nights, with all their wizardry of imprisoned genii, enchanted palaces and young girls beautiful as the dawn. And the site for this lordly pleasure house, this secret haunt where the master might hold his visitor prisoner for hours or days, this dream house of art and abandon, of refinement and triSCMRGFD TMrHMTFK&rtoHJ'DF revelry, was chosen, as if In deliberate NsFpmip cifsrs pmsonpps pop mys Joy In the contrast, in the heart of the IN THSPtYSTPfilOUS H0V6F. . most respectable and commonplace No one touehed It, but exquisitely furnished little bedroom door opened. surroundings. was It opened of itself.' We went through where, they tell, champagne "I sat up in the bed and started to that door and along a passage and up poured for those whom the king of this some steps, and then another door palace of art most delighted to honor with ruin. opened in the same way. We went up some more steps and when we Few Knew of the Place. were half way up I stopped and asked Very few persons ever dreamed of where we were going, and a voice the existence of this Twenty-fourtrailed down, but 1 could not see who street studio." Some of these were it was. Then another voice called, a workmen, who constructed it under mans and we went on up the stairs the architects own direction; others, till we came Into a room magnificently those In his service, who from time to furnished with velvets and satins, time would carry there his choicest with all kinds of beautiful things art treasures. One at least, a standing around and paintings on the fire Insurance man, must have cabinets and known lt for the house and Its conwalls and Interesting bronze and niurhle statuettes and tent were Insured for thousands of shaded lights." dollars. There are three floors to the studio, Others who entered there were clubuot Including a kind of basement, men, like himself, Apostles of the Unwhich was given over entirely to the usual, ever seeking a new sensation; kitchens, pantiles and servants' quar- young women of pleasure flattered by ters, and a peculiar feature of the the notice of one In the front ranks of whole building Is the fact that instead wealth and rashlon; little "country Evelyn Nesblt, of one main staircase running straight mice," like 16year-olthe different whose fresh beauty gratified him In tip through the house, the splendid setting provided and floors are reached by an arrangement of separate staircases, eaeh of which whose senses were Immediately dazed gives access only to one particular by the unwonted, oriental luxury. Most Thus White's of the visits there were made at night. floor or set of rooms. friends pussed up a staircase which Many of the guest would have been gave them no hint that there were any unable afterward to find their way Enough, It was Stanford rooms on the basement floor at all, there. and openhere held beneath the spell door a Whites domain, closing by and, conceived ing another there all the doors being of his genius. How he first secret his thick of built threw It. It, It. springs, a bought system by operuted which could be worked from key- mantle of secrecy over It, nobody boards on each floor known practically knew. be Just why the house cante to be disto White alone the visitor could led straight to any part of the house mantled, and when, remains a mya-lerDinners were given there up to White wished without being taken through any other part. But for gen- within a very few weeks before the night of June 25. Perhaps some rumor eral purposes It was the first floor was tiiat basement reached the owner who knows? Sethe the one altove "Inused as the main reception room and crecy Is ever on its guard; to be In vest to artistic the like that most trying Igated" for the hlg supper psrtles, Whatever the motives, disnature. which "the Hie Girl" figured. mantled It now Is. The great mirrors Hera Luxury Unrestrained. rudely torn from their fixtures, the own hla kingIn was priceless Bokhara rugs bundled up In Here the artist the before Thaw a unrestrained. hurry and smuggled away. Tba occream." said Evelyn whs luxury In the dom; here waking of of the adjoining houses conher In bronze told she cupants as antique were court, glowing ' There I "Then to In tinue go and come on their dally wonderful, mirrors. room of the and and marble; tapestrlea little thought of the grew-som- e with rounds, softened centuries; by ed and screamed and screen subdued tones, me to In their rear. What U house from and himself akd over he came on White had pillaged I began to scream enor- likely to become of It la hard to prean Then paying shrine by quiet. keep n Italian between dict. Stanford White is dead; and tha more than ever." All this mous bribe to the gray haired priest, venumwthna veil of secrecy he drew over this, his Hlxlh It. Jeweled Broadway and who burned candle before shop humdrum the of haunt, has been rent from end to the pet front painted throw stone's hung chandelier street, third IVit the house Is still there and end. blended color of of Twenty lld riot ping district celling art-a- nd still hla. No other oecupant seems electrical consummate with Commonplace Surrounding. enchanted likely to hold It. It remains a monudevice that startled and s bwh One wall of the the eye. The electrician ment to the Genius, Art and Rpthlria-asof rlHldren and charmed one man. of delight ha how the i tells house Musee. the Eden The tu who furnished and simple country visitor. h to-da- ro'"C- - w 1,16 of window might th..'IKfl ,h outer door of the ii,, 8 '"ndcr all through the Jil4;n lllnuh he would find facMi ,0 ,h studios or rooma ef ici'Tr ' nn Ale By Hal o (Copyright, rison Rhodes by Joseph Q. Howies.) When the Austins are in a mood to invite confidences most men tell their troubles at once. It was only the shortest time after Turner, the inventor, hud been lunching with Charles Edward Austin and his wife, Lady Angela, that he was engaged in a somewhat long account of his experiments in artificial refrigeration. Turner had perfected what one may madescribe briefly as an chine of great efficiency. Turner's invention enabled one, with a trifling expenditure of money and trouble to carry the inestimable comforts of cool drinks and of healthful and fresh food everywhere. "This is no longer experimental?" inquired Charles Edward. "You can really do this?" Yes," said Turner. But what I dont understand." continued Charles Edward, is why I find you saying youre down on your luck. You ought to be within fifteen or twenty minutes, the richest man living." Oh, I dont know," murmured Turg erectly," he would have liked lo say "of purchasing a five dollar gt Id piece for a dollar, lie suld Instead. He went no further, for the youuq woman clasped her hands together in an apparent ecsiary of lnnoc-meand rapture. "Oh, 1 should Just love to, she said. 1 "I hope It Is a n 'good thing It? It looks very funny to ne somehow." Kvetyone started. This I hen was. the explanation of the young man's seeming madness. Lady Angela again produced a gold piece ami looked appealingly atthe men around. Moved by chivalry an I by the love of sensation also, they rushed forward to examine the coin. It's a Imd one, madam, if ever there was," said a reporter with red hair. "I think Its horrid of him, complained the young woman, timing an accusing face upon Charles Edward. . I don't understand anything ner. about business. And I thought my invention would be so splendid for the well-know- n $QRlrNTeD Charles Edward Sells an Invention army." Wonderful for field hospitals," said Lady Angela. "Yes, assented Turner, brightening, and so Ive been trying to sell the whole thing to the government. But It's no good. I thought I had better not sell my patent altogether, so I offered to sell the government for five years the right to make my machine for the use of the army, for fifteen for " and he hesitated hundred dollars." Charles Edward turned to (he Inventor. Your machine Is worth fifteen thousand, well worth It, Isnt it?" Yes, I supitose It really Is." Then, why, pursued Charles Edward, "when you only ask fifteen hundred do you expect the war department will ever think It worth more? You may take It from me," lie went on "that if you offer a thing for less than Its worth no one will believe It is No one will trust worth anything. lt, no one will believe lt Is genuine. Why, I dare say I might go up to the capitol and offer to every one who came along " Charles Edward stopped with extraordinary abruptness and his eye gleamed. Lady Angela leaned forward. "Well," said Charles Edward at length with the utmost calm, upon the steps of the capitol I will publicly prove all that I have Just been saying, and I trust end In selling your Invention to the war department for a reasonable price." At about 11 the next morning a western member, hurrying to an for which he was already late, descended the steps of the capitol two at a time. Half way down he was stopped by a young gentleman who had been standing contemplatively in the sun. I beg your pardon, began the stranger, In a tone at once confidential and confident, putting hts hand upon the legislator's arm. Im sorry, broke Ip the congressman, "but I cant give you a moment If you want an Interview come to the about nine and Ebbltt house ask for me." "That would be delightful." said the But 1 don't know who young man. you are. "Dont know who I am! Then why the dickens have you stopjmd me?" I wished to propose to you," was the response, that you should buy this twenty dollar gold piece for five dollars. Will you buy? Do you take me for a fool?" "No, naturally you wouldn't buy It at this price. You dont believe Its Neither do the people In the good. war department." Have you been trying to sell twenty dollar gold pieces to them for five dollars?" Not exactly," said Charles Edward, but a friend of mine has been doing what amounts to the Bnme thing." "Is your friend as mad as you are?" he asked at last, surprised at hlmkclf for putting the question so seriously. "There Is more method In my madness. You stay and watch If you like. No one will buy from me. HI, there, Joe!" shouted the western member as If in response to this. A fat man with a red tuft on hls chin turned and cume towards them. Here's a good thing for you, Joe," continued hls friend. Twenty dollars for five." The newcomer's comment was In almost too picturesque and extravagant salesman language, yet the would-bdid not seem downcast "This story," remarked the representative of a Metropolitan Journal who had Just Joined the crowd, with care, can be made a warm one. Would you aa soon as not," he asked Charles Edward, "try It once again, Just to let tne see the game?" might, I suppose." was the response. not too enthusiastically given. Well, here comes somebody, and shes a Yorker. too." exclaimed the Journalist espying Lady Angela. "Madame. 1 offer you a most unparalleled opjiortunlty of behaving di- e i Half Way Down He Was Stopped "What ought I to do, she asked of the gentleman who seemed so markedly sympathetic. "Arrest him of course," and he bounded away towards the policeman at the top of the capitol steps. At this point he was Interrupted by a stalwart blue arm laid upon hls own. Charles Edward has a generous spirit and he would be the first to ad mlt that hls wifes Intervention had given to the whole affair a publicity beyond anything to which hls own nnaided efforts could have attained. It was a sheer delight to read the headlines: Member of Smart New York Society Arrested for passing Counterfeit money Earls daughter accusea husband red-haire- - Of being blackleg. As for Washington, the next day It did nothing less than bolt Its lunch and precipitate Itself upon the dingy police court, where it was understood that tho examination was to be held that afternoon. The appearance in the witness box of Lady Angela, In a mauve costume of Parisian origin, quieted the assemblage. But, alas, the witness. In the prettiest, and completest way, broke down In her evidence. Yes, she admitted, she did buy a gold piece from her husband, paying him a silver dollar. "And he gave you this coin, now lu the possession of the police? Well." said Lady Angela, thats Just what, now 1 think of It, I can't be sure of at all. You see I put it at once Into this purse, and she held up a network artlclo for inspection; there were a good many other gold coins there. They may have got mixed up. "Then you have no Idea how yon came to have this coin?" "I cannot iwssibly tell, replied Lady Angela, evading the question and the necessity of lying at one and the sunie moment. It was evident Charles Edward must be acquitted. There It was. But the Judge experienced a pardonable curiosity to knew the reason of the prisoner's behavior. Let me tell you, then," cried Charles Edward enthusiastically and did so. An enunciation of a great moral truth, such a description of Turner's portable Ice machine as In the atmosphere of the courtroom moved everyone. At first. It must be confessed, the Incongruity and humor of the whole thing were what chiefly struck the people. Then the represen tativer ot the press regained headway, as It were. Turner, being at hand, was interviewed at length. Then they do scended upon the secretary of war Somewhat confused, that gentleman admitted that he had heard nothing of the Turner machlno, that It wat doubtless being Investigated, that h would himself personally see that 11 was so investigated. Ile had better," was succinctly put, the editorial comment everywhere next day. Charles Edward's photograph appeared in sixteen weeklies and In two hundred and fifteen dailies. A lead Ing merchant In New York put on sale the "Lady Austin DiiBt Cloak." And on the fourth day the department ol war offered Turner twenty thousand dollsis for hls Invention. over-heate- d . ' |