Viewing page 417 of 500

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

418
105

33 Ferry Avenue E.,
Detroit, Michigan,
February 21st, 1908.

CHARLES J. MORSE, Esq.,
1825 Asbury Avenue,
Evanston, Illinois.

MY DEAR MR. MORSE,
There is so much to tell you concerning an important matter that I scarcely knowwhere to begin, but rather than burden you with too long a letter I will be as brief as possible. For more than two years, Mr. Hayashi, Mr. Ushikubo and others of the Firm of Yamanaka and Company have expressed earnest desires to hold an Exhibition of first-class Japanese and Chinese Art in New York outside of their Establishment and entirely without commercial influence.

In this matter Prof. Fenollosa and other lovers of Japanese Art have shown deep interest. At last I am glad to say the material for such an Exhibition has been secured in the following manner: In one of my interviews with Mr. T. Masuda, while in Japan last year, the project was merely touched upon. When he reached New York last August other Japanese art worshippers spoke with him on the same subject, and by the time he reached Detroit he seemed to be quite willing to exercise his influence with the nobility and chief native collectors in Japan. While here, he referred to the subject voluntarily, asked for my opinion, and invited me to act as Chairman of an American Committee. I acceded to his request conditionally; that is, I told him that if he would personally collect a thoroughly first-class collection of Ancient Chinese and Japanese objects from the collections owned by the Emperor, the daimios and other leading collectors of Japan and send them to America for Exhibition with the distinct understanding that none were to be for sale and that commercialism in no wise should be connected with the affair, I would interest myself to the greatest extent possible, even to that of acting as Chairman of a temporary committee.