Page:The Dedication of Germanic Museum of Harvard University p09.jpg

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The Dedication of Germanic Museum of Harvard University.
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ly influenced the intellectual development of this country, I wish to acknowledge that at the present time Germany is receiving much in return from the United States. In ever-increasing numbers, Germans of every grade of social standing are crossing the Atlantic to study the development of this progressive country, which is working, like Germany, for the benefit of mankind.

But if it is true that there is much for Germany to learn in the United States, it is equally obvious, on the other hand, that the foundations of modern civilization can only be studied from written and other documents, dating from past centuries, in the possession of which Germany, among all countries of Europe, is particularly fortunate. To facilitate the study of these documents as they appear in all such monuments which the industry and the genius of past German generations have created, the idea was conceived to build up on this side of the ocean a museum which would enrich the study of the development of German sculptural art from the very commencement of its existence.

When His Majesty the German Emperor, who takes a great interest in all such questions relating to the advancement and progress of learning, heard of what was being contemplated, he became very much interested in the project and gladly seized the opportunity to contribute to so important a work. He sent to Harvard University a collection of reproductions of typical German sculptural monuments, from the eleventh to the eighteenth century, hoping that they will kindle the interest and encourage in the United States the study of the sculpture of our ancestors, who, to a great extent, are your ancestors as well.

It is my pleasant duty to-day formally to hand over to Harvard University, in the name of His Majesty the German Emperor, this fine collection. And I am happy to couple with this formal presentation of the Emperor's gift the announcement of two other gifts which are about to be made to Harvard University. A year ago last April, after the friendly reception of his Royal Highness Prince Henry of Prussia by the people of the United States, there was formed in Berlin a committee of leading men of science, art, literature and finance, with the view of supplementing the Emperor's donation by a gift from the Ger-