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Show A ROYAL CONNOISSEUR. James B. Laughlln, a wealthy collector col-lector of Pittsburg, recently discovered discov-ered a hoax In his gallery and compelled com-pelled a dealer to refund tho $9,500 that has been paid for a $30 work of art Mr. Laughlln, as this episode shows, 1b a connoisseur of no mean ability. At a recent dinner ho pointed out brilliantly bril-liantly tho limitations nnd tho shallowness shal-lowness of "court painters." Thon ho laughed and said: "A movement was on foot for tho alllnnco of King Charles., of Wurtem-berg Wurtem-berg and tho Grand Duchess Olga of Russia. An emissary of tho Uusslan court enmo to tho young king, lnld m certain proposals before him and sub mitted a portrait In oils of tho royal lady. "King Charles, after a closo scrutiny, scru-tiny, said: "'This portrait flatters overmuch. Tho eyes aro too largo and brilliant, tho hair too abundant, tho completion too flower-llko and tho nock and arms too beautiful altogether.' "'Dut, you majesty,' said tho astonished aston-ished Russian, 'you do not know tho' grnnd duchess.' "'No,' said tho king, 'but I know court painters.'" |