Darlington Neutral in His Mother's $100,000 Art Suit Against College

Richard Stockton Bullit Darlington '48 has been reading newspaper accounts of the Case of the Missing Masterpiece with more than a passing interest lately, but he is maintaining a strict neutrality in the $100,000 court battle between his mater and his alma mater over the disappearance from the latter's Fogg Museum of the former's masterpiece by Rubens, "Descent from the Cross."

The painting, after a lengthy and highly publicized absence, was found, dust-coated, in the basement of the Boston Art Club and returned to Fogg Museum last week, but Mrs. Jean Bullit Darlington, owner of the art-work and mother of the Harvard Sophomore, has not withdrawn her suit against the University.

Darlington, interviewed between doses of a history reading assignment in his rooms at 49 Jarvis Court yesterday, wants to study law here; and he looks at his mother's suit against the University as a highly interesting legal twist. "I am very neutral in the case," he said. "I sympathize with the University, since I am studying here, and I want to see justice done."

Outside of visits from reporters, the case has not interfered with his studies, he said. He doubts that many members of the summer student colony, other than a few Jarvis Court acquaintances, are aware of his special interest in the matter.

After returning from overseas service in the naval air corps last October, Darlington was married. He has been a student here since last February.