The New York herald., 1922-06-26
Late J. S. SaltuS
Was Donor of the
lean d'Arc Statue
Patron of Arts and Member Of
Salmagundi Club Was Secre-
tive About Benefactions.

Friends OF the late j. Sanford Saltus.
prominent in artistic and historical cir
cles in New York, whose death occurred
at the Hotel Metropole in London on
Saturday, were not inclined to attribute
his demise 20 anything other than nat
ural causes Intimates OF the dead man.
including DR.. George +. Kunz and fell
low members of the Salmagundi and
Fencers clubs were emphatic in their
declarations that Mr.. Saltus was a man
with everything to live for; that he
possessed wealth, social standing and a
vigorous and active interest In scien-
tific, social and historical affairs in
France. England and America. His
closest friends said he had a program
OF work laid out for two or three years
ahead.
Mr. Saltus was member OF a we'll
known New York family and direct
descendant of Admiral Korneils Evert-
son. who recaptured Nieuw Amsterdam
from the English In 1878. He was a
patron OF fine arts, an enthusiastic
numispatist. a skillful fencer, and per-
haps the foremost authority in the
United States on Joan of Arc and ner
history.
Was to Have Married Soon.
It was learned yesterday that Mr..
Satus and Mrs. Robert J. Campbell OF
40 East Fifty-fourth street. who for
merly was Miss Estelle f. Arnold. were
soon to have been married. Mrs. Camp
bell was overcome by the news of Mr..
Saltuss sudden death and would make
no statement. A member of the house
hold, however confirmed news of the
engagement and said that further de-
tails were expected hourly by cable.
Mr. w. H. Shelton of the Salmagundi
Club one OF Mr.. Saltuss closest friends.
said:
John Sanford Saltus. who fell dead
at the Hotel Metropole in London on
June "a. was born in New Haven, Conn,
| on March Q. 1853, the son of Susan
Sanford and Theodore Saltus, who made
| the first cannon ever forged from
| American steel. The family home was
at Fifth avenue and Thirty-seventh
| street, and at Fairfield. Conn. The
| father. mother and wife Of DR.. Saltus
died after long residence at the OLD
| Fifth Avenue Hotel. where Mr. Saltus
made his New York home until 1t was
| demolished.
| HE was president OF the British
Numismatic Society and honorary presi-
dent of the American Numismatic So
! ciety. Mr. Satus was so modest in his
| benefactions that few New Workers. knew
who was really the donor of the Joan Of
Arc statue in Riverside Drive. He gave
| to the French society credited with the
erection of the monument the sum of
| $4,000. which substantially paid for
| the work. of which Miss Anna V. Hyatt
was the sculptress. Last fall a replica
OF the statue was unveiled at the city
OF Blois. France. which also was the
gift of Mr.. Saltus. He was an officer
of the Legion of Honor and the only
American who has instituted a prize in
the French salon, in his case for the best
battle piece.
Lived Mostly In Europe.
Mr.. Saltus was devoted TO the library
of the Salmagundi Club. He lived mostly
in Europe-in Paris or Nice-blt for
many years had been on the lookout for
rare books for the club library. His
collection of Louis XVII.-The Dauphin'
is one Of the special features of the IL
brary and contains everything rare and
unique on that unusual subject. The
collection OF costume works. numbering
more than 700, is largely the contribu-
liable publications by the French and
other Governments.
'Mr. Saltus was the angel of the
library. a collection not generally known.
which has grown under his generous
patronage. which was veiled with the
same curtain of modesty with which he
wished to conceal his other gifts
Mr.. Saltus more recently made his
| New York home at the Hotel Seville.
but gave up his apartment there when
he sailed for Europe about three weeks
ago.
Bishop William T. Manning and the
other authorities of the Episcopal
Church recently accepted a life size
statue of Joan of Arc that is to be
placed in the French chapel of the
Cathedral OF st. John the Divine. The
statue was the gift of Mr.. Saltus and
the dedication ceremonies had been set
for next January. In addition to his
other interests Mr.. Saltus was known as
student of Shakespeare. his work THE
Plants and Animals OF Shakespeare
being accepted as authoritative IN its
! field.