rtTUDIKS (►N MUSKUMS AND KINDRKI) INSTITUTIONS, M28 



States wliicli were all J was able to visit, likewise oti'ercd material 

 beyond my expectation in the iield of my studies. 



I was considerably impressed with the capacity of Americans in this 

 department, and am inclined to maintain that museum affairs in gen- 

 eral are on a higher plane than in Europe. This is irrespective of 

 material, and refers more to scientific than to art institutions. So far 

 as the buildings and administrative affairs are concerned, Europeans 

 have few good and matiy ordinaiy and even bad museums. The Ameri- 

 cans, on the other hand (I speak only of the eastern part of the coun- 

 try visited by me), have man}' more good and fewer ordinary or bad 

 museums. These inferior nniseums, however, improve rapidly, cor- 

 responding to the pace maintained in that country, whereas in Europe 

 the rate of improvement is hopelessly slow. 



The unparalleled rapid development of affairs in the United States 

 as compared with the Old World repels a critical method of examina- 

 tion ])v the observer, not only because what has been accomplished is 

 in a high degree worth}^ of respect and admiration, nay, is often even 

 overwhelming, but also because such criticism would, in many cases, 

 l)e forestalled by changed conditions, so that the critic in judging the 

 rapidly changing conditions must keep in mind the future not less than 

 the present, and must even regard the projected as already accom- 

 plished. I therefore confine myself in the main portion of my report 

 more to making conspicuous the positive, the instructive, and what is 

 new to us, and relegate any critical remarks to footnotes, in order 

 not to mar the general impression of my statements. With regard to 

 these criticisms, I must guard against referring to European or even 

 Dresden museums as if things were better in these. On the contrary, 

 things are generally not done as well on this side of the ""pond," as 

 tiie Americans call the Atlantic Ocean. 1 should, therefore, have pre- 

 ferred to suppress such remarks entirely, but where there is light 

 there are generally shadows also, and, honor to truth, I pi'omised 

 American friends and colleagues not to do so. It was thought that 

 something might be gained here and there by criticism. Hut, although 

 this may not come to pass, 1 wished to show my gratitude, in some 

 measure at least, since the reception accorded me by all those interested 

 in similar subjects with whom I had the pleasure of becoming closely 

 acquainted was so <)])liging and overcoming that I ciin hardly (^xpress 

 my feelings in words. There Jire no men more leady to help or more 

 amiable than the learned citizens of the Union, and I hope that they 

 will regard my report oidy as a "tribute of admiration and gratitude." 



