The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1855-12-20

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A WAX th-ou-' the National Institute al
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MgssSs EDIr3Rs.-It would indeed be a
grea. task 10 give YOU anything Ike detailed
account of this immense gallery Of art and
curiosities in one, two. or even hall dozen
communications; but | may, as | have leisure
and incli alton ;Eat way. give you. III broken
doses. 4 passin, notice OF some OF the leading
objects Of interest, which are to De seen IN this
gallery.
On entering this magnificent hall. ii the
visitor wishes 10 examine the curiosltles in the
order in which they are arranged and number
ed he viii observe first. a large ease contain
Ing collection OF spears and wsr-clubs. from
the Feegee Islands. collected by Charles
Wilkes who commanded the Exploring Expe
di,ion. which sailed from Norfolk. Va, Aug.
10, 1888. The charge OF this Expedition was
given 10 Commander Wilkes, then junior in
the service on account OF his eminent capacity.
civil, military and scientific.
4 Little further on are beautiful specimens
of painting in colo-s, such landscapes,
hunting scenes dc. These are from the hand
of foreign artists. The case adjoining these.
are specimens Of oriental down. Solid milk.
{t!is milk has proved valuable discovery to
ag-rs-when dissolved ia warm wa.er It
mas precisely l4le = "a AiSFti III "a -
made from cold meal, a-,a.e. diamond. and
ruby: and numherle>s variety Of stones,
ores, &c. from foreign mines.
Close by is fall length por;rai- 81 Guizot.
the celebrated author and minister OF Louis
Philippe presented to the American InSn-
tute bv the American citizens residing in Paris
l. is Intended as a memorial Of the author Tor
his translation OF the life and writings Of
Washington; and prepared al a cost Of 1000
francs /. is from the studio of the same
artist who produced the great painting Of
Webster replying to Hayne in the Sena,e Of
the United States. Ia ca-s opposite this i.
t. be seen a Mexican lance, hemist and culrass
worn BIZ the body guard Of Santa Anna,
Sectional portion Of the fla, staff of the
National Palace in the city Of Mexico; torn
down by order of General Scott after the taking
of the Capitol hat and coat of Mexican
lancer. iron spurs. kc,-the latter resembling
more the description of Don Quixotte's wind
mills than the persuadets OF a modern dra-
COON.
1t is impossible 10 give the reader an idea
OF the thousand and one articles IN cases ;. i
and s; they were collected by Com. Wilkes
from the Feegee Islands. Among the most
remarkable are the head band Of Feathers.
worn by the ladies when full dressed; mask
and Wi worn by tie men when IN danger.
q mated wig used as helmet 70. protection,
this and the basket coat OF mail coming up be
hind, are. impervious to arrows.
I Case cont ms 4 collection Of ornaments,
and curiously wrought vessels used BY the
natives Of Tonga Island Among these is
the vessel used in drinking that mos DISCUS
ting Intoxicating drink called Ava. From ali
Antiquity the grape has been ;rolden 70
press its Juice but on this island no such
painful aud tedious process IS required. The
fair sex. Young, old and midiie-ased, seat
themselves around these bowls. and after
mastering mouthful OF the root. expectorate
its Juice in the vessels after which IL Is strained,
and pronounced an excellent beverage. II
some Of our Indiana ,oiHe -biJJers had to live
on this delightful beverage for while, think
Prohibition would be more popular In certain
classes than it now Is.
Opposite the above case is collection Of
Continental and Provincial bills, used as
money; one for twenty shiings, dated 95th
April, 1875. issued by the Assembly of Pea
nsylyania in the name of George III, and
printed BY Benjamin Franklin. together with
several other specimens from this pioneer in
the ''art preserva:iye OF all arts
In case :. there are many hundreds of curl
ously contrved instruments OF warfare, and
for other purposes, from the Sandwich Islands.
4 conch shell, used to rally the warrior in
battle; stone adj used in excayatIng their
canoes; armaments Of wood. used BY the
natives in their dances, flute used IN coaEtship,
cloth made of mulberry bark. rasP of shark >
skin used in smoothing their canoes and other
wooden vessels. spears, war staff, helmet made
of tie skin of porcupine fish. daggeFs,
swords, dc, ma le OF wood and bone. and
that thew NAV be more deadly. the teeth Of
sharks are attached In examining this case
one cannot but reflect how large proportion
Of the products OF people 50 small IN number
that they constitute but family Of the great
human kind. are intended for The destruction
: OF their species. VIVA. interests. what leal-
| ou~ies wha. excitemen.s, what wrongs have
they 10 >,irlua.e OF Cypress them Without
invaders, withou. alliances, precIlded by
nature from the conquest Of nations or acqui-
si,ion of territory. Turn to ourselves. In
tie ratio Of our civilization. with religion o.
peace. and exalted worship; with moral as
well as intellectual elevation, behold the land
s,rewed with weapons oil death! Observe
our fierce spirit for contest: arsenals stored
with destruction. as vet silent and unscattefed,
bul ready for their grim interpreters and dis
seminators. the war ship and read artillery
We invoke battles, and invite famine, It's guan'
fanduaiden, TO our shores NAY not the
, beinr whose intelligence levels al earthly
: superiority. consider US as insxcusable as W.
estimate the acss Of the savage 10 be N those
: lonely i.land. Of the distant sea- will mans
no more in this communication. d.
, IsTrnPERAxck AND CoLLEgEs.-A dis
tinyui.hed gentleman OF this State and one
Who has been long and Intimately associated