Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-23

extent and the vast expenditure involved
the work has been spread over seven
years. The most striking items OF It
will be carried out in the period 191l-l9l6.
when the Chinese government Will have
built eight flrst-class battleships. twenty
cruisers. ten gunboats and three notilias
of torpedo boats. China intends to pro-
coed Immediately with the task OF sur
veying her naval bases. expanding the
curriculum of her naval schools and en-
larging her dockyards, while she has also
on her program the creation OF an adml-
ralty board, the establishment OF new
naval academy and the recruiting OF
force OF marines.
PENIS Remains.
For some time past there has been
movement in the United States for OBJ
tanning the permission Of the British gov
eminent to transfer the remains of Will
liam Penn from the little burial ground at
Jordans. Chalfont st. Peter. Bucking-
hamshire, to America. But I learn that
any hope as to the accomplishment of
that object are premature, and that there
Is little likelihood of the Society of
Friends agreeing to any such proposal
But the request has been made, and will
doubtless be made again. SO that all low
ers of this notable shrine are keenly
watching to prevent the transfer.
Mr.. Edward Marsh of Luton, who is
one of the Friends closely associated with
the maintenance of Jordans. informs me
that there were certain negotiations pend
ing in 1881 between q commissioner ap-
pointed by the commonwealth OF Penn
sylvania and the trustees of Jordans
meeting house and burial ground with
reference to the proposal to remove the
bones of William Penn to Philadelphia.
These negotiations came to an end, and
they have never been resumed, the senti-
ment Of the official custodians of Jor-
dams being now, II possible, more COM
pletely opposed to any disturbance of hui
man remains than it was twenty-eight
years ago.
I am in a position to state on the best
authority that Whistler's ''Nocturne in
Blue and Gold, Valparaiso" has within
the past few weeks passed out of the
McCullock collection. 1 understand that
of Detroit when he visited London recent
ly. Mr.. Freer's wonderful assemblage of
art treasures becomes the property OF
the United States government on his
death. together with the sum of half
million dollars for the construction of a
suitable building In which to house them.
He possesses far and away the most ex-
tensive and important series of works by
Whistler anywhere to be found.
1t was he who carried off from Glasgow
in 1908 for $4,000 I'm Princesse du Pays
de la Porcelaine," which at the LeyIand
sale of 1892 brought 81. 100 only. 1t was
he who secured. when it was reconstructed
in Bond street some years ago, the ia
ried out for Mr.. F. r. Leyland's house in
Princes Gate. Again, he owns the early
and beautiful Thames in Ice" originally
bought by Sir Seymour Haden for $50.
the picture afterward passing through the
hne gallery of Mr.. ]. J. Cowan Of Edin-
burgh.
Mr.. Freer's assemblage of etchings in
cludes the unique Mother" drypoint sold
for the price Of good Rembrandt when
Mr.. Mortimer Menpes' collection was on
view. Mr. Freer lent nothing to the me-
mortal exhibition at the New Gallery, but
at that held In Copiey Hall. Boston, no
fewer than fifty-one of the pictures and
imrne ds wIn froro tha s,xtee was Years
ago bought by the late Sir John c. Day
for $1,000. Later he exchanged 1t for
jacques The Shepherdess," which In
May last fetched $500. That does not
represent anything like the present value
Of the nocturne. l.. III. MOORE.