The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-04

try, on which she paid a duty of $500 600.
She has teen most generous in allowing the
pull lie to view tho collection, and has pro-
vided by will that il shall come into the pos
session Of the put lie at her death. She has
set aside a fund for the purchase Of art
works for this museum, and the 500 coo
paid in duty undoubtedly depleted this fund
by just so much.
THE Government got the 500 600 and
spent it for some purpose or other, no one
knows what. There il no way to tell
whether its expenditure was of as much
value to the country as 5000, eco worth of
art would have Leen; and, moreover, the
Government by its act a v notice that
future benefactions of the kind would lie
d.scoura ed by heavy taxation.
The late Charles Parsons left his collec-
ton to the st. Louis Museum Of Art. He
had paid S25O,0O0 duty on il. The director
Of that museum, Prof, Halsey c. Ives, o.
leves that hat $1,000 would nave teen
expended in add { n art o jects.
1T Is a mistake to suppose the public
receiv es no benefit from pri ately owned
paintin Is. hey are constantly displayed
in loan exhibits. Three portrait exhibits
in New York brought large returns for
charity. Then there was the loan ~ hib
W ich completed the pedestal OF the Statue
Of Liberty.
"In the loan exhibit called One Hundred
Masterpieces held a few years ago in
Boston, the Nalue Of the pictures loaned, as
shown by the insurance, was 1886 900. There
were pictu es in il which no American mu-
scum could afford TO purchase.
"~Thirty-two Of the lot came from dis
tant cities, from owners h could not
possibly derive any benefit from the
exhibit. This showed a rather generous
attitude. In the three weeks IL was open
the exhibit had II 900 ' isitors.
Loan exhibits are held constantly in the
large cities, and have reaped large sums
for art schools, charities and the like. More
ov er, ev en- if art objects are not displayed
to the public they add to the art atmosphere
and the art education Of the country, for
they cultil ate the taste of purchasers, and
where a demand IL created a supply will
rise TO meet it.. Ey cry Florentine chest,
eN cry little antique in the country, helps to
cultivate the public taste.
when we come to art objects not paint
ings we Immediately touch great financial
interests 10 be benefited. We haNe gr'at
manufacturing interests now designing
carpets, rug wall papers, q aperies and
silks. These manufacturers or their
agents 90 to E rope eN cry = ason for de-
signs. They buy designs o. or there, and
European designers come yer here to do
what ours cannot do, because they don
know enough about art. II is TO our flnan
cial interest to be able TO do our own de-
signing.
sign may often be the deciding factor in
the sale under modern competitiy g condi-
tons. She made a scientific study Of what
was necessary to enable her to compete
with the manufacturers OF the world. The
result was the Go eminent technical chOols
and museums Of Germany.
THE Gov eminent has spent millions in
building up the great new mu cum of Berlin
alone. The resultant phrase, Made in
Germany, tells the ale. IT our Gov ernment
cannot spend millions TO erect and fill
musetn,s, Il might at least allow pri, ate
purcha ers TO bring In works Of art at their
own expense.
THE Government makes pretty distinc-
tons at times. The presidenY Of MiddlebL ~
College, Vermont, imports photoI era phs Of
the Roman Forum for the pupils notebooks.
II he keTt the photographs for the college
they would come in free. But rs he sells
them 10 the students at cost they are taxed
a rs per cent. duty, which ~ taken from the
pockets Of students often hard pressed To
make both ends II eet.
where the protection comes In | cannot
sec. We certainly cannot photograph the
Roman Forum in America.
1T Is "a quaint fact that while Italy taNcs
heavily t1e sale OF her art treasure O.lt Of
the country we tax their pIrCnase. Italy
has reaped millions from the people who go
there TO see / Ie very objects which We are
taxed for bringing 10 America. L. l. really
funny 10 see toe company we keep in tne
worlds countries listed according 10 their
art duties.
England. Sweden. Norway, Denmark,
Germany, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Greece,
Russia and Austria have no art d ties. and
Switzerland and spain practically n
We stand with Turkey. Bulgaria, China,
Persia, Sierra Leone. the Bahama Islands,