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Grand Hotel des Wagons-Lits,

Peking, Septem. 17th/09.

Dear Colonel Hecker,
I am most fortunate in having secured the services of a native expert in Chinese ancient art, who, during the last twenty years has served many foreign and native collectors and merchants --- particularly of recent months; Mr. Woerch of Paris, who was taken ill a few days prior to my arrival and who has been ordered back to France by his physician. His misfortune is my good fortune in that it accidentally made it possible for me to secure the services of his man for two weeks. His first week ends tomorrow and I have never known his equal in ancient things Chinese --- in fact, in Chinese art he is fully Fenollosa's equal in Japanese art.

He lives in Tientain where I first met him, but he knows every one in Peking worth knowing, and has access to them all. Already he has brought me in direct touch with several of the leading explorers of central and western China --- the men to whom we are indebted for bringing the sculptures to modern light such as I bought from Matsuki just before leaving America --- and the three pieces bought from Messrs. Woerch and Co. in Paris lately. Another shipment of these treasures has been brought here from Shensi [[strikethrough]] e [[/strikethrough]] and Honan by these same explorers along with some fascinating bronzes, a few of which I must, if possible, secure. Another great discovery is the realization of one of the great dreams of Fenollosa and myself had years ago after days and weeks of talk on the possibility of unearthing in China itself, specimens of Chinese painting of the Tang and Sung dynasties which heretofore in modern times, have been purchasable in Japan only. Prof. Hirth of Columbia, who lived out here many years and who collected many Ming pictures, said time after time, that in his opinion none of the earlier paintings remained here. Others of experience have made similar statements. On the other hand Dr. Headlands when my guest in Detroit last year, expressed strong hopes of a few at least being found. Dr. Voretzsch my friend of the German Consulate at Hongkong, wrote me in April last, in answer to my inquiry, that he believed diligent search here would unearth some very fine specimens.

Within a week, I have found in most unexpected places here in Peking, more than twenty superb pictures of the periods named, and by very famous artists. In every case but one, the owners had no idea of the very high prices being paid in Japan and