New-York tribune., 1902-01-03

The directors Of the Royal Collections for Art
and Science last year sent TO this country Dr.
A. B. Meyer to visit and report on the museums
and similar institutions in the United States
with special reference to the precautions taken
In them against fire He did his work with Ger
man thoroughness, and the results are appear
Ing in a large book in quarto form, Of which two
parts have already been issued. "Ueber Museen
des Ostens der Vereinigten Staten Won Nord
Amerika: Reisestudien'' Or. Friedlander & Sohn,
Berlin)- The first part deals with the State of
New-York, the second with Chicago. II any
Germans think that they have nothing TO learn
from America in the matter Of libraries-which
are here more highly developed in general than
the museums-Dr. -feyer wishes to undeceive
them He says to both libraries and mu-
seums. with the emphasis of italics: I'VE must
exert all our powers. each one in his own place
In order 10 hold own" He gained a pro-
found impression of the capacity Of Americans
in this field. and maintains. speaking of the sci
entific rather than of the artistic institutions
that the condition of American museums is on
a higher standing than that Of European mu-
seums
He begins his descriptions with the American
Museum Of Natural History. which he considers
certain to be in the course Of the twentieth cen
tury one of the foremost institutions of its kind
in the world. OF the Metropolitan Museum he
ness is great, and it's development will be still
more glorious because of the endless stream of
works Of art that finding their way from
Europe to the United States. The New York
Public Library. the Brooklyn Institute. Colum-
bia University and. under the heading The
University Of the State of New-York" the Cap
itol at Albany described. The second part
deals with the numerous institutions of Chicago
especially with the university. which is treated
III
proof construction of all sorts had a special in
terest for DR.. Meyer. and he devotes considerable
space TO their consideration The United States
is far ahead Of Germany in such matters and
the author cannot sufficiently urge the attention
OF German museum authorities TO them. Yet he
is surprised that American museums have not
yet adopted iron shelves and cabinets but still
use wood, that has been discarded in many Eu-
ropean museums. For another peculiarly Amer
ican characteristic DR.. Meyer is overhowing with
admiration-the enormous liberality of wealthy
men in endowing the kind of institutions he came
here study-and he is never tired of celebrat-
ing ii.
The path of the young person in these days is
made plain and easy in many ways. so far as
. the foresight and assistance of his elders can
make it. Valuable aid in furthering his under
standing Of references in literature and art is
afforded by the latest of the series of cyclo-
p9dias compiled by John Denison Champlin.
The Young Folks Cyclopsedia Of Literature
and Art" CHenry Holt & Coz. In 1t there will
be found brief explanations of a vast number of
the references TO the subjects of which II treats
that occur all through literature: descriptions
OF the great books in all languages; some popu-
lar books; the principal characters I'm fiction
and poetry: the pen names OF prominent writ
ers: such popular niSxnames of persons and
places as have found their way into literature
In architecture described the most impor-
tant monuments with many illustrations: in
sculpture, the principal statues especially the
antique; in painting the great masterpieces and