The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-13

Hon H c. Squiers, United State1
secretary OF legation ut Pekin, Is re-
turning to his country for q visit, and
brings with him n great quantity a
curious: beautiful. and costly sYeci-
mems Of Chinese art. According to the
public reports. the collection is OF great
intrinsic value It Is said. indeed, thai
only a multi-millionaire could have AZ
forded TO purchase IL had It been Offer
ed for sale under normal cfrcum-
stances. As 10 happens. however. Mr.
ouiers has enjoyed exceptional oppor-
tunities for the accumulation OF Chi
nese bric-a-brac without having to pay
extravagant prices. He has been right
there on the spot. prepared to Improve
the shining hours. All sorts Of things
come to him who waits. provided he
selects his post OF vigilance with judy
ment- And thus IL turns out that Sec
rotary Squiers. who is not q million
aire at all. but only n plain. modest.
Woodworking American diplomat. Is
able To present to the Metropolitan
Museum OF Art a collection Of ceramics
and so on worth q princes ransom In
the open market.
Mr.. Squiers wishes IL to be distinct
~ understood that this is not loot
The collection embraces not only por-
ceiains. but bronzes, ivory. carvings.
&c all OF peculiar artistic merit and
enormous value; but. although Mr..
Squires is a comparatively poor man
according TO the sordId standard OF
Wall street n rich only in the afrec-
donate approval OF the state depart-
ment and the blessings OF an untruu-
bled conscience. he is nevertheless in
possession OF the goods. We under
stand that several railway cars were
required TO transport the collection
from Pekin to the coast. and are not
at all surprised to e hat the affair
has attracted widespread attention on
both sides of the Pacific. Self-seek.n s
hucksters and so-called experts have
been for year engaged In gathering
art treasurers in the Orient for sale at
large profit to the wealthy. What could
be more natural than their concern.
not to say dismay owe this V ast ship
ment OF really ~highclass curios by a
bashful n retiring gentleman who
Seeks no worldly recompense for his
patient devotion and desires only the
proud consciousness Of having embel-
ished his native and with pagan and
ungodly spoiis? 1t IS true that In this
country We have n harsh name for
gentlemen who purchase stolen goods.
no matter with what noble and right
eous intentions. No such ideas prevail.
however, in China. The Rev. Gilbert
Reid, the Rev. Ament. and others OF
like authority have explained TO us the
difference between direct and indirect
plumber. 1t is one thing to 20 In per-
son and loot a Chinese palace or a
heathen sanctuary. It is a horse of
another color to purchase honestly
from the red-handed ma~lefactors who
have wickedly done the robbing. Pos
sibly some one OF a carping disposition
may want to know why an act regard
ed with r~eprobation here passes un-
changed in far-off China To such an
ll-regulated person we reply, simply,
mat we are bestowing our religion on
China. but keep our mortality for
home.
The arrival Of the collection at New
York and its subsequent display in the
metropolitan Museum will be awaited
with universal solicitude. Lee; us re-
ceive 1t with gratitude and wothout ir-
reVercnt interrogatory.-Washington
Post.