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42 Date & Place of Dispatch: Oct. 29, 1903, from 552 West 114th St., New York. Text: Dear Mr. Freer, On Tuesday(1) I sent you the telegram concerning Matsuki, and received your answer that evening. He showed me the Matahei at Kerby's,(2) and seemed to feel that he would have to show it to Mr. Ross(3) very soon. It may be possible that Ross has seen it. I told him that you ought to have it in your collection, and he said he would reserve it for you if you could decide quickly. I presumed that, since you had seen it, you had discussed the price with him; but I did not question him about this. He said he would write or telegraph to you that evening. The Matahei I refer to is, of course, the low six panel screen, gold ground, with some ten figures, and a Motonobu(4) screen painted in the background. It is a wonderful thing. It exactly corresponds in style with the Hikone screen, which, you have heard me say, is taken as standard Matahei in Japan, and was insured by 30,000 when sent to Paris. It is certain that it is by the same man; and while the figures are smaller, they are hardly inferior. It is more important for you to have than any alleged Matahei I have ever seen for sale. I looked at it carefully, in suspicion that it might be a very clever copy; but this seems to be out of the question. It is almost wonderful catch. I don't believe that Ross has anything to compare with it. Yesterday I went again to Yamanaka's,(5) but Ushikubo(6) was out. They have an auction sale of plants today. Yours most sincerely Ernest F. Fenollosa
