New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-03-07
TIE TANAGRA FAMILY ONCE MORE.

70 INC EuitOT OF me ITlOhHe.
SIR: General Di CesnOla's letter in this
mornings tribune leaves the matter OF the Tanagra
statueles in position which cannot be very
comfortable for OF the parties concerned II plain
that there has been misunderstanding and 1t ia
desirable to nd out what that misunderstanding
was, and how 1t arose, order that II possible,
such misfortune may be avoided in the future As
Of the public greatly interested In the Metropolitan
Museum and in this latest OF Its misfortunnes
have looked carefully into the affair, and believe there
can be no DOUBT as to the true explanation oft.
wlthiall courtesy to the gentleman who is named by
General Di Ccsnola having consulted him with
regard to the purchase OF the Tanagra lgurines,
the regret may be expressed that he did
make q formal statement OF what he proposed.
in a letter addressed officially 10 the Board
OF Trustees. Had he done should doubt, be
possession OF the He Is certainly excuabo
for thinking this Formally necessary. He addressed
himself personally IN company with another gentleman
he had interested in the matter. General ID
CesnOla OF tho trustees. and tho
most likely to urge 1t upon the atten.
ton OF the Board. General ID Cesnola seems
10 nave sundersoOd Mr. Lawrence's proposition, and
he pushed the in fectuay. IL be be SAID
pushed it all. that nothing could reasonably
have been expected come OF bis action.
The question which Mr. Lawrence wished addressed TO
the Trustees simply whether they thought the
statuettes desirable acquisition to the Museum
collections. As OF the Board, member OF
influence had said in private, when the question
was asked OF him. the Museum had antiquities
now than wanted, and would prefer sell rather
than TO buy. it naturally appeared to Mr. Law
renee desirable to know whether the trustees
body sympathzed with the sentiments Of ore
Of their number privately expressed No money
asked by trusers, there consequently any
limit fixed tho time IL which t should be raised
The only limit Of time was that necessarily fixed
by events Mr. Apple tou OF Boston, stood ready
hand To draw his check for the amount required,
81 500 the moment word should come that the Museum
did not to accept the statuettes The
meeting at which answer to be given
to Mr. Lawrence was the last that would be held
for o month. 1t therefore necessary that tho
answer should be given at that meeting but there
no call for money, for the promise OF money,
either on the part of Mr. Lawrence that
OF Mr.. Fenardent MIR. Fenardent preferred that
the collection should remain in the city he has adopted
his residence and willing to walt the convenience
Of Mr. Lawrence for the payment. Mr. Lawrence his
part had the trustees SAID they wanted the statuettes
but had no money. would have raised the money him
self
This what Mr.. Lawrence endeavored to make
clear General ID Cesuoa. IL few hours he had raised
800 AnJtner gent einan, the one who accompanied
him his call upon General ID Cosnoa thought he could
certainly without difficulty raise much One
person had promised 800. General ID CesnOa
had promised $50, and II was thought that the
trustees cOuld easily raise the rest among
themselves nud their friends But let IL be distinctly
understood that there was demand made that tine
trustees should raise cent. All tBat was asked was
heir moral support. II. body they would say the
purchase was desirable. the money would nave oeeh
raised.
This mora support not given simply because it
was asked. General ID Cesnoa di not present
the matter to the trustees at all. Tho meeting was
much occupied with impOriant business ana no 0pPo'
tuulty was offered tor General ID CrSnoIa TO
bring the matter up After the meeting was
over 1t was mentioned casually 10 one or Two
of the members but 1t made no impression n, rs ION
pIper paragraph STATING that there had been ieebe
refusal Of the trustees at the Executive meeting 10 CON
Foundation, In fact-the president 10 Nuose h"tIe -
brought. declared That he had never hearu OF
the statucttes or OF any proposition 20 secure
them for the Museum, until he had READ
il In The newspapers lie added tnat, had
been brought TO his notice he certainly would have
contribute 10 the purchase Of the coliccu H. Another
of the trustees who also heard or II for the first time.
through thr ne wspapers tells me the same thing;
The trouble seems then. t0 BE- In nutshell Inc pro
trustees official body. General ID Ce1h1a uu nov
understand all Mr.. Lawrence proposed TO do hd
not understanding II he did not think 1t worm wht 10
take up the valuable time Of the board meeting WIN an
Mr. Appleton AS soon AZ he heard the issue " the
OF his prize Boston. That IS tue way thty 90
things IN our sister city Every member OF
the Board OF Trustees Is on lnG q.,s LOOK .Ooh,
rich genefO man ike Mr. Appleton know H. aud tue
ihiug Is bought. Last Summer the trustees
wanted 100000 build an extension TO their
Museum. They asked casually for the $4,000. aud
got Sl2jO00 day or two ago my pouHnV
very interesting Holbein-a rare npd IOWA IOWA
era fgarlnes IRON under noses Personally the
trustees OF our Museum ore most eXceitht men auu
citizens hut trustees they are certalhy very niue
fitted for their position as providers lor the PuDio
"'' - CLARENCE COOK.
March 7, 1870.