New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

cided to pattern the one proposed for Cooper
Union.
The library in connection with the Paris
museum is purposely placed in the Place des
Vosges, which is the centre of the artisans quar-
ter of Paris. My sister went into this library
and for six weeks studied the French system of
classification and arrangement. We were fortu-
nate in interesting the directors of the French
and other museums in project. The French
directors chose the best models in French casts,
-. copies were made for With these and
liyiary of art books formed by Abram S. Hewitt
tuc museum started
The project rang true that it had friends
ncm the very beginning. The museum was
ci.ened May 26, 1897, and in the first year
there were many valuable gifts Of money and
ant objects The late George Campbell Cooper
l-Queathed his fine collection of engravings and
hngs- This was increased by the gift of the
George A. Hearn collection and of modern
O. cravings presented by Samuel p. Avery.
Thus, within year the museum possessed one
o. the finest collections of the kind open to the
,.blic in this country.
Many pictures treated from the point Of view
{. decoration also came within the museum
Ills this first year. There was Luca Giordano's
Ie.uesentation of Diana and Endymion,
I.otcre by Raimundo MadraZo, of Paris and ten
studies by P. V. Galland Among those who
l..,@e vaIuab BILE contributions in these early days
hyre Mrs. Charles B. Alexander Mrs. Francke
huntingdon Bosworth, Mrs. Lloyd Brice. How
ara g. Cushing DR.. John c. Curtis, the Misses
Iuer, Miss Gurnee, Georges A. Glaenzer, Mrs.
/. L, Godkin, Mrs. Woodward Haven, Robert
l. HargOus Miss Bridget Mahon, Mrs. James
" Pinchot Thomas Smell, Eben Wright and
Miss Anna Wagemann.
From this start the museum has grown Won
derfully. 4 year ago ]. Pierpont Morgan gave
the museum a collection of one thousand pieces
of textiles, covering the history of weaving
during the Christian 1t included collec-
uons from Barcelona, Madrid and Paris, and is
one of the most complete in the world. During
the last year many valuable additions have
Leea made including $1,000 worth of seven
tcenth and eighteenth century leathers from the
Matsuki sale, and two contributions of 5000
for general purchases. Edward Cooper and the
Misses Hewitt gave $1,000 to furnish cases for
the proper display of the textile collection
AS the museum grows there is a steady in
in tie number of people who use it, At
first many of the visitors had no particular OBJ
ject in view-simplr went for amusement. The
curious class seems to have eliminated them
selves and the number of workers increases con-
stanty. close record is kept of the visitors,
their occupations and the work they do.
The museum is primarily for workers." said
-Aiss Hewitt the other day. We want to help
lhe greatest number. If more ironworkers visit
the museum than stonecutters, for instance, our
idea would be to increase the exhibits which
il-<erest th4 ironworker Visitors are usually |
willing 20 give information about their work
when explain the reason for asking it,
The register in which visitors put their anne |
addresses and trades, occupations or professions
is interesting. The page which was opened the |
other day when Tribune reporter visited the |
mus um headed by the office boy, and his |
interest was "art'-almost vague peculiar |
and unexpected. but he surely found it. On the l