The San Francisco call., 1905-02-12
Caspar Clarke Will
Leave England
for America.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


LONDON, Feb. 11.-There could be
no more conclusive tribute to the emf
nence and value of Sir Caspar Pur-
don Clarke's services in behalf of ap-
piled art than the profound express
sions of regret that have been ELECTED
by the announcement of his resigna-
tion of the dictatorship of the South
Kensington Museum in order to as
sumo the management of the Metro
politan Museum of Art in New York.
His detection is regarded as national
loss.
In well informed circles it is be-
lieved that it is not the temptation of
a much larger salary which has in
duced him to take this step, but
rather the desire to escape the red
tape which has hampered his control
of the foremost institution of its kind
in the world. This view of the case
is strengthened by the fact that by
his action he has forfeited all right
to the snug pension which he might
have claimed in few years.
Sir Purdon is in his fifty-ninth
year, but as jealous, enthusiastic and
untiring as when he first entered the
museum forty-three years ago. At
the end of a three years course he
won the national medal for architec-
ture. AS an architect he has often
furnished gratifying evidence of his
practical skill, exquisite taste and wide
acquaintance with varying types. He
assisted in designing the new build
ings for the museum, which are not
yet completed. The Bethnal Green
Museum and several consular and
embassy buildings in the Far East
We're designed by him. In arranging
exhibitions his services have been in
frequent demand. The Indian city,
which was so greatly admired at the
Indian exhibition in London, was his
creation.
The most enduring monument to his
memory lies in the wondrous Oriental
treasures, worth a Kings ransom,
with which he has enriched South Ken
sington. To obtain them he made a
long sojourn in India and Persia pur-
suing his quest in the darkest corners
of old cities with a whole-souled en-
thusiasm that rendered him Indifferent
to hostility and danger. 1t was no easy
matter for white man to seek in their
lair such relics as Sir Purdon was bent
on securing, especially when they in
clude, as they did on more than one oc-
casion, articles over which the sanctity
of mosque or temple had been cast
His contributions to archaeological re-
searches have long caused him to be
regarded as one of the foremost au-
thorities in England
His appointment in 1896 as chief di-
rector of the South Kensington Mu-
scum was tardy recognition of the
value of his multifold services. He
was knighted in 1902, and that also
might properly be regarded as a much
belated honor, considering the large
number of mediocre folk who receive
that title
That he will ably fill the late General
di Cesnola's place no one doubts He is
not only great connossieur and man
of profound learning in his special fields
of study, but he is also a practical man
who can do things and an excellent or
ganizer when he is allowed to have his
own way The Board of Education,
which for the last three years has had
control of the South Kensington Insti-
tuition, is sorely puzzled as to a man to
replace him. They will have some
months to look around, as he will not
leave his post until next September.