The Washington times., 1915-12-07
Detroit Connoisseur Makes
Public For First Time Terms
of 81 Present. .
RECEIVES A BILL OF SALE
Treasures in His Control Until
He Dies-A Model F FORM For
Bequests.

sion said Charles Lang Ffeer. the
weIl-known Detroit connoisseur Of art.
whose notable collection which he has
been thirty years in gathering from
the treasure troves OF the world has
been presented to the Smithsonian In
stitution at Washington for the pleas
ure and benefit Of all the people.
In making this admission Mr.. Freer
explained to a Sun man, who dropped
into the Plaza Hotel to see him, that
his gift was made by the simple process
of a bill of sale to Uncle Sam for q
nominal consideration by the terms Of
which the art objects will remain in
his possession during his lifetime, al
though actually the property Of the
Government, but will pass automatical-
" into the custody of the nation upon
his DEATH as announced in The Wash
ington Times some time ago
It is believed that Mr.. Freer's novel
people will be a model for the benefac-
tons Of other men who desire TO pass
along art collections to the nation. the
State or to the municipality without the
possibility that their wishes might not
be carried out in the distribution of
their estates
Not only has Mr.. Freer transferred
70 his fellow countrymen fully 5000 art
objects, the value Of which runs UP into
the millions tMr. Freer won't telf how
many. but he is now planning to erect
Tor the Government as soon as possible
house the wonderful collection. Charles
4: Platt is now working on the designs.
Mr.. Freer is not ready as vet to make
public the details Of the plans. 1t is
cost 81 zoo, 900. and not $500 900 as re-
ported In the papers few days ago.
Giving Not Easy Feat.
IT telling the story of making his gift
to the nation absolute by means Of a
sale for 81 consideration while he is
alive. Mr.. Freer pointed out some Of the
difficulties that he experienced when
he made up his mind to give. 1t wasn't
any easy matter at ri! to turn over
his collection to the nation. while still
rescrvng the right to keep 1t in his
possession in order that he might con-
his ' work is OF OF discovering is finer things and
wedding out the less important. so that
the collection at the final inventory
would be what he wanted It to be.
When Mr. Freer originally offered In
1905 or 1906 to give his collection. then
containing 200 objects. TO the Govern
ment. the governing board OF the Smith
sonian Institution laid the tender on the
table Col Theodore Roosevelt. then
proceedings, and at once took steps for
the removal OF the obstructions. He
brought about a meeting between Mr..
Trcer and the late Chief Justice Mel
vile W. Fuller. then chief Of the Smith
sonian regents. and after the two men
had got their heads together. way was
speedily found for the giving by Dill
of sale that was acceptable 10 all
When It came to finding a way to
transfer title to the collection and still
leave it in my chs charge 10 .nts-.d Mr; TeSr ,nto
between the Government and myself.
The intent then was to give 1000
objects keep them under my control
While I lived. and add TO ns.,h,n the h.inpHr ;n-
stance where by so doing ! would be
ahjo to improve the collection.
A contract was drawn up py whicn
gave title to the COLLECTION win .ne n,2
lifetime and to add to or take away for
the purpose Of obtaining higher quail
ity Of art specimens.
unon a form Of contract and I offered
the gift to the Government, agreeing to
furnish the means for the erection after
my death Of building 20 house and ex-
pose. The objects once in the building
could never be removed except In the
case Of repairs to the building. A1ter
this was done the Government was TO
cilnies were to be given to students.
Objects not on exhibition were always
Ia be accessible TO serious minded stu
dents.
Tabled BY the Regents.
IN this form the gift was rendered to
the Government and after they had con-
sidered the gift the matter was placed
IN the table by the board Of regents OF
the Smithsonian Institution. In that
condition of affairs President Roosevelt
asked to have the report read to him
m h
structions he took steps at once to re-
nova them He invited me to meet
Chief Justice Fuller, who was at that
time. the head of the board Of regents
of the institution. President Rooseven
brought us together and after we had
discussed the matter the Chief Justice
made it plain to me that under the pro
posed form of contract there was la Die
10 be many difficulties after my death
and prior to the erection OF the building
'It didn't take us very many minutes
10 make important changes in the con-
tract We decided then that 1t would
ton at once objects that were not
really of the finest esthetic quality.
The suggestion was made. and agreed
to II, to transfer to the Government by
actual sale for a nominal consideration
subject to certain conditions which We're
mutually agreed upon, the objects which
might survive the rigid inspection OF
cNDerts. w
"rnder these conditions l could add "a
the collection but could never take
awav from 1t. The transfer of about
. noo art objects was then made by
actual sale mot recently as stated day
or two ago by New York newspaper)
Annually since then other acquisitions
have been given to the Government, sc
that today the collection embraces over
3 OOO objects This collection and the
building which will house It will con-
stitute an annex to the National Gallery
Of Art . ,, u.,, ,u -,
possnssion until after the proposed
building Is completed. although II II
now the proDcrtv of the Government
end I have the right to loan any par
OF II that ! NAV desire. There are now
about twenty Whistlers and dozer
Tryons belonging TO the collection al
the Panama Pacific Exposition at Sar
I'rsnCisco. 7 have frequently loaned OBJ
jccts belonging to the collection to mu'
srums. universities. and art associations
IN America and Furope.
WV plan now II 10 begin as soon M
.osqibie tho erection ~ building Al
washington for tho housing NJ the col
I,ctinr Charles Platt. NJ New York
=, -iruinp the structure. When thf
ii'lduu is finished tn" collection will
'-f, o, thor" nd tho Government will
= o.. ,.'..rrc ir pornotuiiY."
81 Fro.r. rnfroincd FROM Tivlns \ de-
t.iIsd dcscTintion of the nlans. hut cx'
ulaincd that each department Of his col