New-York tribune., 1912-01-28
ARr 4 N1TIONAL ASSET.

If there he any lesson deducible from
Mr.. Morgan's decision to bring from Lon
don to the Metropolitan Museum in this
city the priceless treasures he has nc
cumulated abroad il is the wisdom Of a
liberal attitude by governments toward
the arts. When the United States abol-
ished It's tariff few years ago, on all
but recent art productions it extended
thereby welcome 10 paintings, sculpt-
ure and kindred objects. that had preyi-
ously been subject TO imposts heavy
enough 10 act in many cases as bar
rier On the other hand, as Mr. Nor
gans London representative has pointed
out Great Britain exacts an inheritance
tax, which. had Mr.. Morgan allowed his
collections TO remain in England for the
rest of his life. would have meant the
ultimate payment by his heirs TO the
British excheQuer Of a sum not far from
81 900 900, and perhaps much more than
that While Mr.. Morgan might in any
case eventually have brought his art pos
sessions TO his own country and cityt the
ments have unquestionably prompted the
impending transfer TO this side of the
Atlantic Of what may fairly be called a
national asset.
To the educational museum in South
Kensington the loss of the collections
loaned by Mr.. Morgan through a num-
ber Of years will be serious. but the gain
TO the American public will be vastly
greater. England Is still source Of
supply to buyers Of the art OF the past
time to come. Especially Is this true as
to paintings, as the recurring winter OK
hibitons of Old Masters at the Royal
Academy prove, though patriotic Eng
lish reviewers admit the fact grudgngly
and deprecate every sale TO an American
Of an important canvas owned In Britain.
With abundant material In the country
from which English museums may yet
be replenished, the withdrawal Of the
several Morgan collections will not. OK
cept In certain departments, entail loss
that cannot in time he made good.
1t is certain, however that when these
concrete evidences of the skill, the sor-
row or the JOY Of hygone artists come
into the delighted vision of millions I'm
the chief American museum their impact
will be felt through the length and
breadth OF the land. SculptoTs will 20
TO them for inspiring example, painters
interpreting the life of our own day will
find there a new stimulus, workers i'm a
dozen artistic crafts will be Of all others
the most indebted for this added oppOr.
tunity 10 study the essential and undylng
spirit in designs that have stood the test
of time and met the needs of world
rooted In the past. Not New York alone.
but every substantial city I'm America
will share the enduring radiation from
this newly acquired source Of artistic
light.
For the Metropolitan Museum. under
whatever conditions Mr.. Morgan may
place his collections therein, 1t will be
an event equalling In importance the
Rogers bequest, which lifted the institu-
tion, a decade ago. from its restricted
position into the vital agency It has be-
come In Illustrating and maintaining art
standards and bringing beauty into lives
that appreciate IT, Under the present
progressive and able administration Of
the museum 1t is safe to predict that the
new Morgan collections when installed
will count at their utmost