Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-26
The Freer Collection.

The Presidents letter to Chief Justice
Fuller, as chancellor of the Smithsonian
Institution. urging the early acceptance OF
the offer OF Mr.. Charles l.. Freer of De-
troit of his rich art collection, is directly
in line with Mr.. Roosevelts often expressed
desire that Washington should be made
the most attractive city In the country.
Mr.. Freers offer is now expressed in terms
which prevent any misunderstanding. He
proposes to execute Immediately upon
formal acceptance of his proposition by the
Smithsonian. present conveyance of the
tite to his collection and a bequest of $780,
600 for the erection of a building In which
the collection is to be housed after his
death. Until his death the paintings, etch-
ings and other art objects are to remain
in his possession and after his death, I'M
til the completion of the building. in that
of his executors. Upon transfer to the
Smithsonian the collection is to remain per-
petually intact as the gift of Mr.. Freer.
and shall always bear his name Fin some
modest and appropriate FORM
Immediate acceptance merely assures
Mr.. Freer that after his death his val
liable collection will be preserved as
whole for the benefit OF all the people. 1t
insures TO the public an opportunity in later
years to view this instructive assemblage
of art objects as a feature of the capital
city 1t prevents the dispersal Of the collec-
ton or Its semi-obscuration at some remote
point and its maintenance as a private gal
Iery. with all the restrictions which pertain
TO such a property.
President Roosevelt properly states the
case when he says that Mr.. Freer's colIec-
ton is literally priceless" 1t displays the
best art of the orient and of the occident.
II offers the largest single group of paint
ings and etchings by one whose name will
always be rated high among the native
artists of America 1t Is educational beau
t!ful, inspiring. 1t is precisely the kind of
art group that finds it's most appropriate
place in this city. which is steadily becom-
ing a center of culture and is destined to
become OF the most intellectually sig
nifcant cities in the world
1t IS true that immediate acceptance
pledges the government to a future pro-
vision of site and small sum for MAIN
tenance. Compared with the cost OF the
collection and of the building which the
donor proposes to erect. this will impose
on the government a very slight obligation.
indeed, so slight as to be negligible. 1t Is
entirely safe to promise the satisfactory
meeting of these requirements. however far
in the future, in view of the certainty that
such a pledge will eventually bring to
Washington an Incompatible gift OF the
widest usefulness in raising the standard
of public culture.
The situation with regard to this bequest
has been vague for nearly a year. The
meeting of the regents held on the 9Th of
this month did not. as was hoped, result
in definite vote of acceptance. Mr..
Freer's latest letter meets all the objections
l,at E1x-
Presidents letter to Chief Justice Fuller
brings the case to focus. It should have
the effect of clearing up all misunderstand-
ings and OF taking the case out OF the neb-
ulous condition In which it has SO long been
pending. Mr.. Roosevelt strikes at the meat
of the proposition with his characteristic
directpess and vigor.