ENDOWMENT 



most ungracious for us to inform the donor that we could not accept 

 his collection because we had not the means of placing it on exhibit ion. 

 The gift of the Duke of Loubat is a case in point. The Museum was 

 presented with a valuable series of casts from Mexico and Central 

 America without any means for mounting the casts or placing them on 

 exhibition. The cost of preparation rose so rapidly that President 

 Jesup was alarmed. It equalled, if it did not exceed, the cost of the 

 gift. A misunderstanding arose, in consequence, as a result of which 

 the Duke of Loubat withdrew his support from the Museum. 



Finally, an increase of the endowment should precede the exten- 

 sion of our building, and should accompany a recommendation to the 

 City for an increase in maintenance to $200,000. 



139] 



