The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-03-18

In no branch of science or art does the
collectors instinct show itself more
frequently or more strongly. John
Ray himself was the SON of an Essex
blacksmith and made his first studies
when farmers boy" But the pur-
suit of science in the cpen fields, how
ever earnest, in infinitely more attrac-
tive than the study of herbarium; in
fact, the enthusiasm of a" beginner
might we'll be choked by mere glance
at the array of folios stuffed with sap
less leaves and colorless flowers. But
if he had the instinct it would return
in good time. At the pleasant city OF
Movers one sees a good illustration. A
conscientious tourist does not fail to
visit the Porte du Croux, a safely
building filed with odds and ends, not
all rubbish. He learns that an old sol
der deposited them. AS a boy the
good man used to hunt for antiquities;
then he was swept up by the conscrip-
ton, and fought from the Pyrenees to
Waterloo. Returning to his native city
after many years forthwith the spirit
Of his youth returned. Not a hole
could be dug for miles round but M.
Barat got information somehow, and
hurried to the spot. The results are
piously conserved, and, as has been
said, they are not all rubbish.
Doubtless there are in London scores,
not to say hundreds, of small collec-
tors, 'unhonored and unsung," as was
Mr.. William Smith, month ago. The
instinct breaks out where least expect
ed. Charles Dickens was surprised to
discover that Grimaldi hunted insects
in his leisure time-no less than four
thousand specimens did he proudly dis
play. But Dickens might have found
instances more remarkable. AS rule
these unscientific collections are worth
less, or even grotesque; seldom, indeed,
can an amateur pick up anything of
real value nowadays, though he have
money. But the man who devotes him
self to gathering curiosities must needs
have an inquiring mind-all the more,
perhaps, if he knows nothing about
them, for then his labors are quite dis
interested. The collectors instinct is
there. How many persons of high
standing one observes, who have
passed Lifetime in the east, clever
statesmen, brilliant soldiers, who in all
those years have made no effort appa-
rently to preserve memorials of the
country. They are the majority. Eve
ry lady has few pieces of gold or sill
Yer, inlay, or embroidery, to deck her
salon, but that is nearly all. Those
who have studied the history of Eng.
land most deeply complain most of
their ignorance; but where should we
have been but for Cotton and Bodley,
Camden and Oldys, and Stow, and that
devoted band2 1t is amusing to dip,
just here and there, into the catalogue
of Tradescant's Museum; but the Ash
mclean at Oxford sprang from it.
William Charleton's collections were a
standing joke for young gentlemen at
| Charles lis court-Athough not for
John Evelyn; but he bequeathed them
to Hans Sloane, and through him they
laid the foundation of the British Mu-
scum. It must be admitted, however,
hat most of the collections, so famous
hat they belong to the story of London.
were childish. We have Steele's report
of Don Saltero's treasures. He must
be very earnest student of the period
who takes the trouble to compare it
with the official catalogue. which, by
the by, went through forty editions at
least, for copy of that number is ex-
tant. But those who have glanced at
the list of Tradescant's curiosiies will
be quite ready to believe that Don
Saltero exhibited f'petrified ham,
Queen Elizabeth's chambermaid's
hat" or any other absurdity alleged by
Steele. His article served as an adver-
tisement, probably. The collection. ac-
tually survived till 1899, when it was
sold by auction and fletcher fifty
pounds.-London Standard.