They Really Did Not Know So Much.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXI, Issue XXII, 28 November 1903, Page 63

They Really Did Not Know So Much.

Bora tide knowledge may be likened to gold in more ways than one. one point of resemblance being that there is not enough of either to redeem the face value of all their substitutes, so that one is obliged to take a great deal for granted. This applies particularly to connoisseurs and collectors of all kinds who are apt to fancy their judgment infallible. But as long as none know their limitation, their decisions are unquestioned, and it is only when one happens to be aware of the true value of some article to which they have ascribed a fictitious value that prestige is impaired. A woman who has lent her collection of lace to loan ex hibitions. and who is admittedly one of the best judges of that delicate fab-

ne in Philiidelphia. lifted the sleeve of one of her friends, exclaiming: "What lovely Venetian point! Do let me look at it.” "Oought 1 to have told her,” laughed the owner of the la.-e afterward. "that it was a piece of imitation. Is-ught a few days before at > -. I had. it is true, a real and very valuable church laee stole adapted to my black velvet bodice, and that was doubtless what misled her. tor 1 had matched the la<e on the sleeves as nearly as 1 eould, and was astonished myself at the resemblance. Nevertheless, it was not the stole that she examined and pronounced so goo.l. but the trimming on my sleeves, showing that she could not detect the imitation.” Another funny mistake made by a woman who ought to have known better was told by her hostess, who was lather indignant about it. The latter had leased a furnished house belonging to some commonplace rich people, and had hung some of her own priceless portieres of rare embroidery in place of the rich but somewhat crudely coloured draperies, belonging to the house. "What nice portieres!” exclaimed her friend. "They are really not bad at all. Those people did not have half bad taste, did they?” "That woman.” -ail the narrator, "considered herself a connoisseur of things artistic. Now just mark the difference. Another friend, who does not pretend to know anything, eame in to -ee me sh< rtly afterward. What a comfortable house. Annie.’ she -aid as soon as she looked around. T see your touch, however. Of course. 1 n.-ed not a-k if those lovely portiere- belong to you.’"