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24.
unrest of the country, of which no man can predict the end.
     Owners of valuable portable property are in dread of actual looting by armed bandits who attack their country places and even their city residences. They have also a reasonable dread of the corrupt officials of the Republican Government who may at any time demand "gifts" on penalty of persecution on real or trumped up charges.
     The only safeguard against these two dangers has been found to be the vaults of the foreign banks who demand large storage and insurance dues from the owners of collections, but who are at least trustworthy. By hording their wealth in this way, the Chinese collectors avoid having to exhibit their treasures to visiting officials who might commandeer their most precious possessions.
     After many consultations with native collectors and with foreigners, I am encouraged to believe that the objects now in the banks might conceivably be attracted to a museum if that museum were situated inside the Legation quarter. We should be able to offer the owners the same security from fire and thieves which they enjoy at the hands of the banks, and at the same time we should charge no storage dues.
     In addition to this we have the appeal to the natural pride of the collector, who would be pleased to find his objects exhibited over his name and studied by competent scholars of his own race and ours.
     The building up of such a loan collection would be a slow

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