Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-24
A WONDERFUL MAN FROM NAIsE.
Some Account Of Prof. Edward $. 4orse
and His Remarkable japanese Mn.
spum.


collected in that country by Prof. Ed
ward s. Morse OF Salem, Mass during
four or five years residence there was
transferred to the Boston Art Museum,
the price paid for the collection being
1900 This was greatly below its real
value which was believed 10 be nearer
sl0tj, o0O-indeed, Prof. Mor.e had PIE
viously been offered so, 600 for one-half
Of il. Chicago and New York bad both
made very large Offers for this collection
but Prot. Morse WAS very anxious it
should remain 10 Boston. This collec-
ton is said TO be the most complete and
perfect collection of Japanese pottery
in the world. A work fully de-
scribing this wonderful collection
was published few years since,
Illustrated by four beautiful quarto
plates representing the collection as ar
ranged in Prof. Morse's private museum
In 6alem before Il was removed to Bos'
ton. During his residence in Japan Prof,
Morse wrote his celebrated work on
"Jspanese Holnea and Their Surround
ings, " which was published in sumptu
Qua volume beautifully illustrated, after
his return to this country. Prof. Morse
was one Of the original editors Of the
American Naturalist, and has published
much on natural history subjects
Just preyiou. 10 and during the Rebel
lion Prof Morse was curator Of the Port
ard Society Of Natural History. He
waa born in Portland and is now "a
years 81 age. As a boy he displayed
remarkable aptitude for biological study
and research and spent most of his time
at the Natural History rooms. He
first went 10 work as clerk in L
dry goods store and then learned
10 be a mechanical engineer under
the instruction OF his brother. Mr. Fred
More at the Portland Compspy's works
He studied biology under Agassl and
attained a notable reputation for his ar
tistic ability In drawing shells ,crytogams
and all the lower forms OF animal and
vegetable life. Indeed his skill with the
crsyon is unusual he can draw with
either hand or both at the same time and
has been seen during his lectures in this
city 10 outline the form of butterfly or
beetle In less time than it takes to tell
Il, using piece OF chalk In either hand
and drawiog both halves Of the insect at
the same time.
Prof Morses wife is a sister of Mr.
George T.. owen OF owen Il Moore.
Portland After the fire OF &c he removed
to Salem MAJ. where he has since re-
sided. Some ten years ago he went to
Japan to pursue his scientific studies and
made himself go prominent there that
the government offered him position
as teacher in one of the colleges at a
salary OF 5000. He stayed there two
years and then returned for his family
and took them back with him TO Japan
His second Oi)urn in that country also
lasted two years.
lie was always interested in art and
had become proficient in his knowledge
Of pottery. On one occasion his health
failed him and he became a great sufferer
from boils that appeared all over his
body. He was obliged to stop work at
the college and for the purpose of re-
cuperation took a trip into the country,
in jiurikisha. accompanied only by a
guide. and visited sections OF the coun-
try, hitherto unknown to white men. 1t
was then that he began the collection
OF pottery and entered into it with the
impulsiveness that characteriles all his
Efforts. Being II government official
he was regarded with respect, al
most reverence. by the country people
and his mantle station of interest 10 pot
terry WAS pretty sure to result in gifts of
rare specimens. many of which could
never be duplicated
However, though great proportion
Of the collection was given TO Tim, lie
spent all the money he could scrape to-
gether and got in debt, knowing that it
would be good investment in The end !;
aud so it proved. The collection proba-
bly, cost him about one 1alf Of the price
paid for it by the Boston Art Museum
It looks Ike an array of Old pots and
lars and to NOVICE is by no means
beautiful 1t is valuable because it
illustrates, almost without a break,
the development OF japanese art
through the centuries from the time of
the settlement of the island by the pic
ncers from Corea and China Some Of
the crude earthern vessels are so quaintly
eloq uent OF distant erts that they appeal
powerfully to the enthusiasm of any
body On one occasion when the col
lection was at the professors house, a
friend, unconscious of oilsnse, spoke of
il as erockcry. He WAS astontshed NJ
| the Indignation aroused by his innocent
remark.
The collection occupied shelves that
covered the entire wall space of room
about 30xll feet in dimensions. The tea
pots, plates, pos, ilrS, cup', etc. are not
like the highly decorated ware that is sold
in stores today. Most of them are dull
in color and some are exceedingly gre
tesque in outline Those which appear
to be the ugliest and crudest to a novice
are quite likely to be the most valuable
and in the eyes of the professor, the
most beautiful. Some Of them were
made before the art Of glazing was dis
covered and are thousands of years old
BY examination OF any Of the thousands
of pieces the professor can tell, without
inverting it, the name of the potter,
which is always stamped on the bottom,
The ability to do this is considered es
sentisl by all cultured people through
out Japan.