Evening star., 1921-09-11
LIzABETH RICHARDS DAVIDSON
LANKED by the Smithsonian
II Institution on the one side and
the Department Of Agriculture

LANKED by the Smithsonian
X Institution on the one side and
the Department Of Agriculture
on the other, the new Freer Art
Gallery, a simple one-story structure
with an ample high basement and
open central court. will be opened
soon in Washington.
Within a few months this million
dollar Lorenzo -Florentine building
will contain the most representative
assemblage of art masterpieces IN
this country or any other. The mu-
scum is a gift and the most unique
and restrictive bequest the nation has
ever received from one of its citi-
zens.
The donor of this extraordinary gift
Charles Lang Freer, began his life In
the Catskills, sixty-five years ago. and
there. over a year ago, those VINO
loved him best laid him to rest II
he had lived a short time longer ne
would have seen the result whicn
justified his outlay of time and money
Mr.. Freer's success in business and
in art was simply the logical result OF
seeing and seizing. While living in
one room and cooking his meals over
an oil stove he climbed from the post
of timekeeper to director of the Eel
River railroad, a short line OF only
thirty miles of track, sixteen freigh'
and six passenger cars and two loco,
motives When the road was Sole
Mr.. Freer and his friend. Frank Jo'
seph Hecker, since Panama canal COM
missioner, pooled their frugal savings
a few thousand dollars. went to De
troit and started in a small way the
Peninsular Car Company. the mrs,
car works in the west. In 1900 they Sole
out to a trust company for vas,
sum. During the next twenty year:
Freer devoted himself to unweariee
searching in all lands. but particular.
ly in the far east and near east. Iol
objects of art of the highest Qualit!
and widely separated periods OF mgr
civilization.
warded. He always came back iadei
with wonderful specimens from ole
temples, palaces and tombs and treas,
ure chests-marvellous glass OUT ol
Egypt, fictile productions from MIN
erto unknown sources, strange IN
cised potteries from Babylon ana i., NJ.
eveh; potteries from Korea. VIII
their peculiar slip and inlay decora
tions, and Chinese porcelains and tex
tiles in all reigns from 1866 b..
17f6 AID.
Mr.. FREER was the pioneer col
A'A lector of Chinese and Japanes
art. He reyeled in their craftsman
ship, whether of painting, print o.
pottery. To this vast assemblage o
Asiatic art he added specimens from
the works of eleven modern Ameri
can artists, giving as his reason tina
he found in them the same feeling 10
the beautiful inherent in the works
of ancient oriental art that ne ha<
confidence were well aware that n
had dedicated himself to turning TN
major portion of his great wealth. intf
objects of beauty and use for the en-
joyment and education OF the people o.
his own country.
The enormous size and scope OF ths
Freer gatherings and Mr.. Freers rap
idly flying years admonished him thai
he must make some prompt. dennitt
and worthy disposition OF his JOY
work. In January, 1904, he made hi:
first and tentative approach to tne
regents Of the Smithsonian Institu
tion, outlining the extent Ten ohi.nt OF ms COL
Not until January, 1905. was com
mittee sent from the institution te
appraise his collection. They recog'
nized the great value of his immense
and unusual collection. and 80 re.
ported. Some. legal bitches required
welt and Chief Justice Fuller. In 1901
Mr.. Freer revised his former oner
satisfied every legal technicality ane
agreed to a fictitious sale which ena'
bled the regents, without furthe'
question or delay, to accept the pc.
valuable considerations paid to hin
in hand" Mr.. Freer conveyed his col
lection to the nation forever"
Those who have had the privilege o.
seeing Mr.. Freer's wonderful exam
pies Of oriental and modern art mas
terpieces in his Detroit home ant
those he lent to museums. exposition
and world fairs bear witness to tn
collections unique value and reooic'
that Mr.. Freer's Intelligent generosit!
prompted him to present MS monu
mental collection to the nation in III
entirety and forever.
While Mr.. Freer bound himseiI .s
provide a suitable building to house
his collection, he stipulated that tht
structure should be near the Ma
tfonal Museum, that. the interior
should be arranged with special re-
gard for the convenience OF Stuoents
and others desirous of an oppor.
tunity for uninterrupted study, thai
there were to be no additions to noi
deductions from the collection and
nothing else ever exhibited with II
in the building. and that the collec-
ton should never be removed from
the building except for repairs and
renovations, that no charge should
ever be made for admission or foI
the privilege of examining or study.
ing the collections. that the museum
and appropriate form, that he should
continue his censorship and that the
collection should remain in his pos.
session during his lifetime.
****
TT is now only a matter Of transpor'
1 tation when his dream will be In
full realisation and operation. def.
nitely in the possession Of the United
States for the benefit Of the untech.
nical observer. and making its ap.
peal to the esthetic instincts Of the
American people.
To the more than 5000 objects. ar.
ranged as they will be in such happy
systematic sequence and easy avail.
and comprehensive art library for ths
use Of students. His custom. Dor.
rowed from the orientals, of exhibit.
ing only q few of his treasures a,
q time, will be observed in the con.
duct Of the gallery. Objects will b
taken from their tills to special roomi
for study.