New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-28
I'LL cLNNOL1 M POET.


The fact that the committee appointed to
investigate the charges made against the art
work of General di Cesnoa have reached a
unanimous decision is Of importance TO the
whole New-Yorli public. II is not necessary
to be familiar with the technical details of
archaeology iii order to lie Interested IN
the question whether gross frauds have
been committed by the Director Of tho
Mctr0poiitan Museum of AIT in his
restoration of antiquities Every mechanic
who took his wife and children to til" Museum
on a free day, and every visitor from the
country who StrOllcd III from the Park. had II
right, and n dctiie. TO know whether the OBJ
irc,s presented to him were what they pur-
rortcd TO be, whether the antiquities
were genuine, and the work done upon
them was honest. The charges struck ut the
integrity of the whole CoSnola collection a,
well as at the personal reputation OF General
Oh Ce>nola lm.clf. If there bad been fraud
in seven Objects. no one could he sure that
there had not been fraud in seventy. The
grave and injurious character of Nj. Fcuar-
dents aeon ,ations must be borne in mind
therefore, III Ordcr to appreciate the inIpor-
tancc of the investigation and the complete
ness Of General iii Ccsno'a's vinlicaiOn.
1t is true that Mr.. Feuardcnt did not find
the community Ovcr-rcady to believe his
statements. This wa' natural-aad just.
General di Cesnola had established his
reputation by brilliantly successful and
pansiakng work. lie was without
motive for helping himself or enrlching
his collection by such means when he did rot
need help, and his collections were already
rich enough. Mr.. Feuardent, it must br SAID,
was not without motive for his
cculse. 1t is to be regretted that a
controversy like this cannot be settled with
out taking personal considerations into view.
Put those whom these charges were likely to
interest most kcenly-artisls, sculptors, std
dents Of ancient art. ctc.-kncw Of Mr. Ecu
ardent as Il person who had come to this country
in the hope of building up business
he,e, who had failed IN his attempts to opcu
business relations with the Museum and who
had not been invited to that official cOnnec.
ton with the Museum which lie has been
believed to desire CesnOla was known 10
New York as an Italian noblcman, who
haG abandoned his brilliant position
at home to seek the distinction of nm
American citizen, who had worn the uniform
OF HIS duOUtcu county anu ptf1lIcu his
lie in her defence. Feuardent was
known as the entorprising son of a
Hebrew dealer in antiquities, who had
wished to sell certain objects to the Mu.
scum and for whom Il great pother had
been raised Because the MUSEUM. thoneh
then without funds, had not fastened
to buy his wares and pay him tie
price he asked. In short. Mr. Feuardent
was in the business of selling antiquities. and
his cagerncss to appear before the public in this
matter caused a suspicion that his real object
was to advertise himself and his wo1es.
In this attempt he was aided by the
unfortunate Willingness of newspapers of n
certain class to think evil of almost any man
who has achieved distinction and success. BIT
not even Mr.. Feuardent himself can claim
that this natural predispOsitiOn of the public in
favor of General di Ccsnola was suffered 10
show itself in any unfiIrness on the part of
the ID irectOrs of the Museum OF the inyesti-
eating committee. 1t is true that his absurd
request for personal representative on the
jury which was to hear his charges was denied
but he afterward acknowledged the folly of
it by going before the committee, in spite of
previous refusal to appear. The committee
invited him to propose experts who might
be cited as Witnesses. and, Hwhen he was unable
to name individuals, literally followed some
general suggestions which he made. The