Wishes the Papers Would Stop Saying He Is Ill
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By Marconi Transatlantic Wireless Telegraph to The New York Times
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ROME, April 6---This year J. Pierpont Morgan has not had his usual luck
in regard to the weather, which has suddenly taken a turn for the bad,
rain and wind making the city uncomfortable. This cannot be said to
interfere much with his arrangements, as when one has a nice covered
motor car the elements can do what they like, but sunshine and Rome are
so allied that unconsciously one resents their separation.

Mr. Morgan is seen here and there in society, although the season
proper may be said to be over, or he is found in his rooms in the Grand
Hotel playing solitaire, smoking long, black cigars, and talking with
friends in the intervals of looking at precious, rare, and beautiful
things brought for his inspection with the hope that he will purchase.

Of course, he has done a certain amount of buying, but that never was
the primary object with him in Rome. Indeed, here he takes his ease,
finding many friends only too glad to take a hand in amusing him.

One of those who had something which he thought Mr. Morgan really ought
to buy was Paul Bigot, lately of the French School at the Villa Medici.
M. Bigot had the distinction of creating a unique and interesting
exhibit at the exhibition of last year, spoken of in THE NEW YORK TIMES
at the time---namely, a huge reproduction of imperial Rome. It is
acknowledged to be a complete and perfect thing, and of great value to
lovers of old Rome.

M. Bigot is anxious to sell it to some museum, asking $15,000, in order
that he may have the money to produce something else and pursue his
studies. He looks to America, for that is the land of museums in the
making, and its people are supposed to be greedy for knowledge, and he
thought that he had realized his hope, as Henry C. Frick took a great
fancy to the model, and, if what is said is true, offered it at New
York, where they said they had no room large enough, and to Boston,
where they purposed to put it in a basement. Whereupon Mr. Frick decided
not to take it. Mr. Morgan is pleased with it, but has not bought it.

Mr. Morgan has cause for complaint against the American press. He says
the papers are always discovering that he is laid up with one thing or
another, and if they knew the work such reports entailed upon him, they
would have mercy. It is sufficient to say that he is confined to his
room with a cold to have messages pour in upon him from all over the
world, each of which has to be answered. So it is just as well that all
should know that he is now very fit.