New-York tribune., 1905-02-05
LONDON NOTES.
Collector Who Can Find Things
Mr. Trees Scenic Triumph.
London. Iannaru os

London January 2S
I~e new director Of the Metropolitan Museum
,vs where the art treasures are TO be found
England and on the Continent. and what is
81 .ar real value This is the frank admission OF
Il - art dealer or connoisseur who has met Sir
- Purdon Clarke and understands how
L. AZ expert he is. AS a collector he has
sveled far and wide in order TO complete the
- Kensington exhibits, and as an expert he
H.. been consulted by the owners OF tapestries
.,r.ings, antique furniture and heiriooms of al,
ass,ss He not only knows what there is I'm the
#,r,ssurn with which he has been connected as
+.sent architect. curator and director for forty
Is but he has also sampled the treasures
1.--s;ae in medieval guild halls. church treas
/ - museums of handicraft and country
4 -sss There cannot be a more experienced
/ -. than this veteran collector II the wealthy
/ -.,-ns Of the Metropolitan Museum wish 70
/ s.-sp its resources on q large scale After ex-
i lining the collections in Central Park he will
4 tnor where 10 put his hands on anything that
| spseaed 10 enrich them. and. what is more he
| MI understand the value Of everything that is
1 o.sred 10 him. An expert Of his superior uual
| rr will be well worth what he costs. even If
| u-rcrt reports are true that his present salary
and retiring pension are doubled in New-York
| Ar dealers and connoisseurs agree on this
mint. and envy the good fortune of the public
sprited New Workers who have succeeded in
securing his services after next September The
Igrders and other city guilds, which have man
aged 20 keep their tapestries, antique carpets
and other treasures out OF the South Kensing-
Ton, are prepared 10 be on their defence against
foreign raid. and collectors and jobbers in Curl
osties and bric-a-brac are warned that. while
their best market hereafter may be New-York
they cannot look Tor speculative prices when so
shrewd and well informed a bargainer is TO be
the valuer.
/ The explanation Of this eminent specialists
retirement from London which I offered in a
previous letter has been confirmed by several
members Of the Civil Service There has been
considerable friction between the Committee on
All and Science OF the Council OF Education
and the director Of the Museum. He has been
bampered IN his work, and has not had full
control over the staff. Museums where experts
are employed as curators and heads of depart
ments are likely TO be hotbeds OF intrigue The
experts differ among themselves respecting the
value and utility Of the exhibits and the prin-
| iples Of applied art Unless there be unity OF
1 Erection there will be jealousies and bitter
EnHtroverses; and if a department Of the Civil
v'eryice be nominally responsible for the man.
cement OF the institution, officials will become
ther obstrucuonists bitter partisans and
1yestigations more or less troublesome, will
ave 10 be ordered. The South Kensington Mu-
cum has not been free from these evils of ex-
ert intrigue and official fussiness; and while
III Caspar Purdon Clarke's friends do not ad-
nit that mis- resignation is Influenced by these
1 onsderations, It is altogether probable that he
I glad 10 break away from the departments irk-
Bne restraint and the neddlesome activities of
Eperts and clerks who are not cooperating
| vth him heartily and effectively It is not
nPossi bic that he has had grievances of his
UE1, for promotion TO the dictatorship Of the
l an Museum was deferred for long period
\ zTaluable his iabors had been as a coIlec-
u an architect and an organizer of interna-
gnal exhibits. Naturally. he has welcomed
amuons to new field of work where he will
ave full authority and meet with hearty ap-
probation Of his talents and accomplishments.
He is a Of learning. who is apt TO be diffuse
In his public addresses; and. consequently
T there may be disappointment when he is called
upon 10 respond TO complimentary toasts after
bis arrival in New-York Yet his authority and
/ experience viii be felt as soon as he takes up
/ his new work. and he possesses. as every maE
Of real force invariably does, the gift of inspir
ing enthusiasm.
The Academy elections. while not so brilliant
Is last years selections, are reputable and use
hi Two Scotsnen have been honored with pro
ralou, and this is a practical method Of meet
tg The complaint that Burlington House re-
sz7H its privileges for English and American
a1EK and is Indifferent 10 the remarkable
a1AEements Of painters born north Of the
| IEeed The rev AcadeTniCian. Mr.. David Muir
zy was one Of the pioneers Of the Glasgow
School but after making a reputation in the
he Ia'e
l an, and was not contented out of Suffolk and
Hampstead, where he could paint landscapes in
Ast great masters manner. While Scotsman
/ g birth he has become thoroughly English IN
Us artistic motives and development. and re-
eaEes promotion after fourteen years service as
Il associate. Mr- David Farquharson. the new
esSoc2te. is ike Nj Murray. q member Of the
scottish Academy: but he has gone as far from
l Is native Perth as he could without crossing
&c Atlantic Cornwall is his favorite sketch
H lg ground, and his home is within two miles Of
shds End. His marines and landscapes have
+A steadily improving in recent years, and
Us election 10 the Academy has come as a
tsEsfd for perseverance and high aims An
| t~cAiect has also been elected an assOciate-Mr.
Assihaid Blomfeld, the designer Of many fine
SuAdy houses and the author OF a well in
Einsa history Of Renaissance architecture in
lAgand
NJ George Clausen was generally regarded as
Arcagest candidate for Academician. but as
nc not become an associate until four years
1 Mr Murray's election, he has been tempo
1 - placed on the waiting list, in accordance
4 academic usage. Genial George II. Bough-
ne most lovable man in the Academy,
i" sudden death has been mourned by
81 admiring friends. used 10 describe the
ny as one Of the best managed clubs.
nobody was ever blackbaIled. Votes were
cast against any artist, but out Of a full
Il y Candidates every mem her balIoted for the