New-York tribune., 1905-01-29
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
NEW MUSEUM DIRECTOR.
This City to Haze Services of Best
Trained Han for Place Nozc Living.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir; As have had good many opportunities
IN the last few years of coming into contact with
Sir C. Purdon Clarke the new director OF the
! metropolitan Museum. perhaps I may be per-
mitted to congratulate the Museum and it's Of
ncials and the people of Ney-York upon their
good fortune
IL simply means that New-YoriS is to have the
services Of the best trained all around museum
manager now living-a man who not only knows
art as it is represented on canvas and in
metals and clay. but is an expert in architecture
oIten neglected branch OF art The latter
mas Shown itself by the use of all the resources
@t mis- command for preserving and exhibiting
sIalrways, wainscotings and ceilings, but. espe-
Oia1y as applied to India. of whole buildings
Aiiueeu' the service he has done-hrst, in study
ing india from the point of view of art: second
n preserving examples and finally. in so bring
ii4s Iheh before the world in a way to make
.ie'i1 eIecClVe-has been. perhaps. his most dis
1ihcllVe achievement, The appeal which that
great country made to his imagination was so
heightened by his training as an architect that
hs mas perhaps done more to make it and its
peopIe understood in England than all others of
MS living countrymen together His efforts in
organizing exhibitions Of everything relating to
1t and Of commanding fitting and pernsanent
recognition in British museums-espeeially that
at South kensington-havs been indefa tigable
On the personal side he Is genial and kindly
approachabl bic and democratic free and out
SPOKEN In his opinions and comments but not
ruculent or overconhdent. Ho has en- instinct
which leads him to detect shams and counter
[elts. and has not accustomed himself to suffer
Ioois gladly. He is good organizer a willing
ana enthusiastic teacher, a strict discipIinarian.
hard worker and interested in many things
lie already knows our people very we'll and will
put hlmself into close relations with the art
interests or New-York He will also contribute
much. so far as his duties may permit to the
country
1t is not surprising that Mr. J. Pierpont Nor
gan should have been attracted TO a man who
not only welcomed his collections but made
hlrnself into a frank and helpful critic. Perhaps
no man IN Europe recognized more quickly than
ulo Sir Purdon Clarke what it meant to uni
Versal art far as collecting was concerned
Wheh rich and intelligent patron entered the
HELD He saw that here was a man who knew
What ne wanted as we'll how to get It, and
that all the museums in the world could not
compete with such buyer. But he gave well
ahother. pointing out. in some instances, where
the purchaser had been imposed upon and yet
never failing TO commend and justify the intelh-
gence and the courage which had brought to-
gether so many fine examples. Perhaps now
that Sir Purdon has cast in his lot with New
World museum he will not be so much grieved
IT. IN the course of time. these interesting and
unique collections leave Europe never to return!
1t Is hardly necessary TO discuss the inter-
esting and ingenious theory that this appoint
ment should have gone to American. It may
well happen. one of these millenniaI days when
the worlds art is freely welcomed without the
levy at our landing ports Of absurd and pro-
hibltive duty. that the making OF available man
ayers or art museums VIII not be, so far this
country is concerned, impossible industry.
Until that time arrives may we'll content out
selves by illustrating. as in this case. our CID
doctrine that the best is good enough for
Americans" GEORGE r PARKER
New-York. Jan. %. 1905.