New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-19
4, TREASURE-HOUSE OF ART
VISITORS THRoNa WITHIN ITS WALLS
THE NEW BUILDING OF THE MUSEUM OF AR,
FORMALLY PRESENTED TO THE TRUsrEEs-
An ADDRESS OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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FORMALLY PRESENTED TO THE TRUsTEEs-
An ADDRESS OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
VIEWING IT'S HISTORY
ycr the first time at its annual reception the
Metropolitan Museum of Art was yesterday able to
rsosive al ts invited guests under Its own roof with
ont inoonvenientiy orowding them The drives
asssnd the Museum were lined with carriages curing
tn ssaenoen anN tAssssnes az visitors taronsea tho
vain leading 20 the onmasca In the maSn nan OF
Ire Older butdr& platform had been erected TOR ia
trustees and The speakers who were to take Fart IN
the exercises attending the orcxnx Of The nsw build
ine The north gallery. overlooking the platform,
was reserved for The Mendessohn Glee Cub which
was 10 sing several selections. The exercises began
NJ 80 with q prayer by the Rev. Dr. John Nal,
,passor Of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. on
fhe platform wore John Taylor Johnston, president
of the Museumi DE- W. G. Prime, Henry O.
knruusnd Mayor Abram S Hewitt, Cornelius Van
dsrbtlt william z Dodge, Joseph II. Choate. Morris
X Jssup, Dr. Hayes Ward, Hugh Aucbincloss, Lewis
oAQd Hiram Hitchcock, Robert Hoo, Lewis N. Ruther-
fosS, ex-Judge ". Il Robertson, J. NJ Constable.
.. I Steward President ]. Hsmpden Rsbb, OF the
Paxh Department. and Park Commissioners Tewle and
Wslde Hutchins
Nearly 10000 Invitations had been issued by the
ssssstses and q detachment Of the Park Police were
dtuxfbuted through the building TO aid the attendant
N te direction of the large number OF people who at
tsnded for reception The annex OF the Museum has
bean built under the direction Of the Park Department
wAaoh awarded al the contracts FOR the work after The
designs had been prepared by the trustees President
Rooh, on the part of the city and the parks, pre-
scented IN few appropriate words the new building 10
the trustses Of the Museum. This was replied u
or4aNy BY Henry G. Msrquand- Tho Mendelssohn
opes Club than sang the song "of Glorious hrl
VS. Art which written by James Herbert morse
70, ss occasion and set to music by the deor'r oi
me o,ub Joseph Mossnthal The address to the
nd tha
Or ". c. Prime, vee-presidont Of the trustees
Or aims prefaced his address with congratu-
,st,on 70 the members of the Museum who hal aided
IN accommodating its magnificent collections out Oh
nothing "In 1870" he continued, there was noth-
ing; not even money TO begin with, emily the WEI u
do All that Is now IN the Museum, except inc
collections which have been loaned, have been pur-
chased by the money Of the members The relations
Of the Museum to the city are simple For some years
tia founders of the Institution expected 10 charge an
admission fee and make the Museum free when they
could afford 70 do But the city officials, wishing
10 make it a great educational Institution OF ART
agreed to furnish the buildings which became necessary
and to bear portion Of the running expenses II ne
Mxesm was brought into Central Park Thus far
the investment Of the city has been 81 100000, or an
intarest Of $4,000 year. Inc lhVes sllen'
Oh the part Of the members Of the Museum has Dsen
S. SOC, 900, repre- senting $4,000 year The
running expenses last year were about S4zozO OF
which amount the city paid $4,000 and the balance
amounting 10 SCI, 900, given by the Museum as
Sifs 10 the people Of New-York and It's visitors'
The trustees Dr. Prime said, gave the Museum thefr
usrsona supervision and did for nothing work that
s usually performed by salaried officials He referred
10 eoe trustees who had died while engaged In this
work OF love- and who had contributed their wealth
their mental and physical powers to the institution
that others might enjoy its attractions Among these
he named George G. Putnam, John f. hensetN me
odore Roosevelt, 7. Blodgett, Joseph W. DrexeA He
retired In enthusiastic terms TO the work Of the pres
dent John Taylor Johnston, during the eighteen years
IN which the Museum has been gradually attaining It's
present position The secret Of the success Of the
Museum DR.. Prime continued, was its usefulness IL
was not intended for any one class, but for all Inc
advantage of having great institution CT ms CHAR
scter In New-YLTk, It's influence on educational WORK
In intoxicating love Of the beautiful and stimulating
an emulation for the highest purposes, could not be
oyerss nmated The Museum represented all races
and nations exhibiting the results OF the highest
culture Of the past and the present In add
ton to showing the extent ana prog
ress Of American art. 1t was library
of contemporary history that had not been hiterea
through the brains Of preiudlced writer's Art mu-
s.,us exerted a moral influence. as they gave to
IN. peope beauty look at and nstled into them It's
refining influences
Ater describing the arts of the past their develop
uent 10 the art of to-day, DE- Prime added In endlns
workjnrman and the worldngwomen, all professions
and labors would find rest, refreshment and hspp-
ness.
At the close OF his address the glee ciup sang
GThe Golden Sunlight Darts on High" Dr. Prime
then introduced Mayor Hewitt, whose place IL was h
behalf Of the city to declare the new building open
Mayor Hewitt spoke only moment, expressing the
pleasure he felt in participating IN measure "hich
must proye Of far reaching benefit 10 the city, as the
widening Of the work of the Museum with It's new
building must prove lie said that he bopeo inc
tine would soon como when the Museum would Dc
open To the public not simply six days. but every Gay
OF the week. including Sunday, so that there might De
no bar to all those who desired 10 enjoy us coeotos
His remarks were received with applause by ms
listeners who then dispersed through the buiiding'
Alter the exercises the visitors promenaded at VIII
through the galleries Of the building until O'CLOCK
The attendance the largest thai has been al any
OF the receptions which the Museum has given aho
the trustees and the dilectorgeneral, LOUIS L. IL
Cesnoa received congratulations on all sides IN recoR
ntuon Of the growth of the Museum It's development
and the appearance of the exhibits Among The many
who were present we're the following:
D. WINS James, John Jacob Aston. Eugene
Kelly, Benson J. Losing, the historian
Professor Charles Eliot Norton. C. 7. Huntington
General Charles G. Lorng, Of the Boston Museum Pro
fessor o. O. Marsh. the paleontoogst; Commissions
Porser OF the Department Of Charities and Correction
DE Lyman Abbott. william schaus. Percy K. Pyne
Hamilton Fish, General A. IL Barnum. Archbishop
Corr gan, John Jay, John ". Hamnersley, nhe Rev
Dr. william sailer, George W. Cullum, George shea
john Kennedy, George IL Vose. the Rev. George
Breed George II. Moore, A. B. Stockwell, ". IL
wickham, Jonas NJ Libbey. Mr. and Mrs. james d
smillie, August Thirty, d. E. Van Emburgh, Rober
6omerville. j. B. Houghton, Mr. and Mrs Spencer
Trask, DR.. John NJ. Kellogg, John b. Simpson. Arthur
L. Tuckerman Theodore ID. Howell Mrs Duncan D.
Parnly, c. T. Cox. Dr. George l. Taylor, Edward Cay
n IohD L.
Howard, DIR. and Mrs. a. Braytop Ball, Charles
mudey Warner DR. F. Il; searles, DE- Robert Ormiston
4. M inslee. General Joseph B. Carr, the Rev. =:
g. Prime, A a. Anderson. Francis H. Weeks,
James II. Morse, Dr. and Mrs Charles A. 4eae
Justus o. Woods, Richard Pollon Dr. Francis E. Shaw
Mrs, 4 &. b. Glaenzer, DR.. Il Z. Lamborn, Mr. anc
Mrs Henry Willard, Edward Cooper, the Rev. snc
Mrs william G. French, General D. l. Van Buren,, s.
packard samuel Sinclair, Frank Vincent IT, Professor
A a Patnn- Mrs George 2 Putnam. ]. O. McMnrray