The Washington times., 1915-12-07

lection will have rooms OF its own, The
main galleries will! be on the second
moor. IN the center OF which will be q
oeautitrl garden or rest room. Only a
part or the collection will be on cx-
nibitton at one time, the other art OBJ
1ects being kept on the rirst floor OF the
building. where they will be accessible
TO students. 1t is part OF Mr.. Treer's
plan to have the objects on exhibition
changed frequently in order that The
art loving public may always find
something OF fresh interest in the ex-
A big feature Of the building will be
the rooms for students The idea OF
anordtng opportunities for student
work is one Of the keystones of MIR
Freer's plan for the cnlightenment OF
Mr.. Freer says that he is satisfied
that the Chinese department nf his
collection contains the things OF the
greatest esthetic interest and of the
highest educational value.
Art Search In China.
He was the first American to believe
that any fine ancient paintings were
loft in China. and to make search for
them in interior centers He said: For
years l went to Japan believing, as did
others. that practically al the ancient
Chinese paintings were in that country.
Then l visited China, going far into the
interior. and found fine ancient paint
treasured by private collectors, others
In the hands of people who knew moth
! Ing of their esthetc or commercial
va!Nti !Wbat W. want to do in the building
that Is to be erected in Washington is
/ to provide splendidly' equipped study
rooms where students may examine
these objects of the ancient cultural
| periods Of China and by such means es-
, taolish in America higher intelligence
! concerning Far Eastern civilization.
~ movement is now on foot to es-
tablish a school of art and archaeology
| In China to which American and for
| etgn students shall be admitted and
the graduates of that school can after
their return 10 their respective coun-
| tries help to instruct in that Oriental
so little is known"
Mr.. Freer made it very clear that tho
reason his collection does not contain
| the work Of European artists Of the
present and bygone days is not be-
cause he doesn't think their art worthy
but because others in America have
made collections Of European art, and
| he decided to devote his time and energy
largely to the gathering together Of oh
jects of equal beauty and workmanship
about which the American people know
! but comparatively little. He enjoys the
pleasure Of discovery, and the JOY Of
| possession lies merely in the fact that
i he can give away what he has for the
enlightenment and enjoyment Of the
| AiHeIlcan people.
! Mr.. Freer Is Bachelor.
| Mr.. Freer Is a bachelor was born at
Kingston. N. Y, and received his edu-
cation in the public schools Of Ulster
county. At one time he was engaged in
railway service and manufacturing in
| Detroit. and retired fifteen years ago
that no might give up all the time he
pleased to visiting out of the way places
of the world and picking up art OBJ
| Jects to keep for a while and then
! give to the American people.
| Mr.. Freer has been \ semi-invalid for
the last four years. He is still suffering &
from an affection of the throat and is
| under the care of physicians. but his
| condition now IL better than at any
time since he was first stricken. He eX-
| poets to remain guest at the Plaza
during December. and possibly through
! the month of January.
| Mr.. Freer. aided by expert cata-
| loguers. Ia working on his collection.
although under medical restriction. and
spends more time consulting with the
architect of the home for the treas
ures that he has been turning over to
Uncle Sam regularly each year for the
| consideration of 81. happy in the KNOW
edge that by these simple bills of sale
he Ia a BILE to make gift to the Aneri-
| can people that no trtcEs OF law or
| Satn CON taka aWay from them