The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-24
THE LATE MR.. W r. WALTERS.
4 Tribute by q B.l'iinorean Who Knew
Him We'll

One who knew Mr.. Walters as well as
any one else, and who had fuli artistic
appreciation OF his superb collections,
Thursday wrote the following, by re-
quest OF the Baltimore American
Mr.. W. 7. Walters was one Oh tne re-
markable men OF the nineteenth century.
His death viii he uourned in every coun-
try OF the world as a calamity to art
and culture. ,o,
He was born in Pennsylvania, In DO,
In the Juniata Valley; Was euucd' e., III, III
the best schools, and early became inter-
ested In the trades which were developing
that part of the State, ana Wnlch ne
cessitated increased facihtes OF uans
portation. His line OF STUDY lnulrscty
tended to the same interest, ana ne
eventually became connected with, ana
controlled many OF the most important
lines OF steam travel ana transp1 ia Ia
ton In this country. lie always hep.
aloof from public life, and devoted every
moment not given TO his business to the
study and advancement OF art. lie was
an early friend and adviser OF the sttus-
Cling American artists, ana always theIi
judicious counsellor and patron ms ar
tistic strength, given Win ms at.entloi !
to art, until his judgment $1,000 IN Ihd'
line from which there Is no appeal;
Every year witnessed his growth ana
comprehension of the great possibilities
attanable in disseminating arr hloW ~" y
edge-iirst for Baltimore-but later LOT
all the great cities in the United states
No one watched with more loving pride
the successes of the MctropohtaI h "a
scum in New York. the Art INSTITUTE III
Chicago. or the Ccreoran in W aShlns-
ton. than Mr. Walters. In Baltimore
he labored zealously and wisely I0r d
diffusion OF interest in art; OFTEN PupIioih-
ing and distributing rare essays anu "o f,.
at his own expense, tenulhB 10 Ihdt am 10
His own collections were arranged es-
pecially for convenience of these VINO Sc
riously studied them. and were more AZ
cessible 10 the public than those OF any
other collector in this country. nd
those collections have done lCr tue AiII'l =
can public cannot be measured III lIl7
century. lie was pioneer IN many ue
partments of art, and was reco6I ii|eu
leader Of aesthetic taste, IN Europe, az
well as in America. His selections Were
always characterized by refinement ana
a full comprehension Of the points which
mark the real merit His galleries Oh
pictures are so we'll known and so high-
ly valued that no mere mentlon can Con
vey an idea of their Importance: IN
pOrcelains. his historic cabinets OF Cnl-
nese and japanese specimens are equaiiy
renowned. There is at this time a cata-
logue Of wonderful completeness nearly
ready for the public, devoted exclusively
to the purpose Of instructng the puplc
with the value OF these historic wares.
In European porcelains OF early date
ir unlaLe and costly experiments regard
ing various processes Of pottery, this col
lection has no rival. The same may be
said OF nearly every branch Of art and
study in which he became interested
brorzes, gOldsmith's work enamcls, en-
broiderles. wood and worries, etc, all
received a liberal appreciation. Not sim
ply admiration OF individual workman
ship. but that noble esteem which can
marshal such single successes into the
ranks from which the worlds progress is
to be measured. and Mr. Walters was
the judge worthy 10 measure It
During his long residence In France ne
became aware OF the superiority Of the
Percheron as draft horse, and it was
with the French Government to purchase
and bring TO Baltimore Percheron horses
of the finest perfection. and 10 establish
here n breeding farm whence Percherou
horses OF the best strngth and hardness
mirht be distributed through the length
and breadth Of his native lard. His love
OF nature. and especially OF forests and
trees. led him to make long lines Of eN-
periments In the acclimatiZatOn OF shrubs
and trees. Such was his devotion TO this
work. no storm could prevent his personal
attendance upon the transportation of a
cryptOmeria from japan, or a sequOice
from California. He had acquired his
large knowledge of botany in the same
vigorous way which marked all his work
and thought-a practical way, which was
10 be the stepping-stones. making easier
travel for his successors. But greatest
and best Of ALL was his unassuminG con-
sideraton for those in his employ. II
longed 10 go to the fair" said he last
Money was so tight-even the railway
hands might lose their little earnings.
and ! could not desert my working peO-
pie even for a day"