Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-06-12

Phitadelphia-Ns academy Of Natura
Sciences, Mercantile Library, Academ,
Of Fine Arts, Girard College, Laure
Hill Cemetery, Fairmount Wafer Works
DC, dc.
New YORK, June !, 1868.
DEAR JoURNAL:-Before leaving Philadel
phia, visited several of its public institu
tions. The Quaker City has the proud dis
tinction of possessing more institutions Of
art, science, education and benevolence than
any other city in the Union. Prominent
among these is the Academy Of Natural Sci
encs, located on the corner of Broad and
George streets This noble institution was
founded in 1912 and Incorporated in 1914.
1t is owned and controlled by private indi-
viduals,. for the amusement and benefit of
members, having cost, thus far, upwards of
100000. Visitors are admitted only on
Tuesdays and Fridays, but my excellent
friend, Hugh D. Vail, Esq, being a member
and having private key, conducted me
through the establishment at time when no
other visitors were present. The library con-
tains over 26, 900 volumes, exclusive Of maps,
periodicals, &c. The museum is divided into
three cabinets, viz: zoology, botany, and
geology and minerology. 1t is said to be the
best in the United States. The branch Of
ornithology takes the lead, and the collection
found here is without a rival in Europe or
America 1t contains about $4,000 spcci-
mems, beautifully displayed in glass cases.
The natural tints of the feathers are pre-
served in all their freshness, and the charac-
ter and natural expression Of each bird is
fully retained. The collection of humming
birds embraces nearly 200 distinct species.
1t is exceedingly brilliant; the eye, in exam
lining them, is completely dazzled by the Ka-
glitter of purple and gold, of
crimson and blue. The cabinet of botany
embraces over $4,000 specimens of plans
and the geological series over 1000 spell
mems, Of which a larger portion are fossil
organic remains of animals and plants. But
the department of comparative anatomy en-
braces some of the most highly interesting
subjects; among which l may particularize
the perfect skeleton of the Indian Rhinoce-
ros, brought from the Himalaya mountains
by D. Burrows. 1t also contains the late DR..
Morton's cabinet of crania, the most extern
sive in the world. In examining this collec-
tion>we are astonished at the immense variety
displayed. What gathering! Here, for
ought we know, may be the "cranium'' of
some learned Theban or Babylonian, who,
three thousand years ago delighted in the
study of natural science; and there, perhaps
that of a courtier.-
Once doomed to kneel
At Pharaoh's throne, and anxious tremors feel,
And this that of priest who often taught the crowd
With words Of eloquenee, whilst listening votaries
bowed;
Dr. perhaps face ace Moses when his sacred
rod
Shook DER the guilty land the plaques of God
This may have been sage; aud this hollow skull
Was peoPied once with thoughs with wit and wisdom
Yes through these socket holes the curious eye
Scanned the heavens wide arch and read the spanged
sky.
IND this. alas the remnant of some beautoous one,
That once amid the halls of Memphis shone,
brief
Since this was. perhaps the head of a lordly chief
Poor skulls ! Whilst gazing on you now,
Ambition we'll may sigh, and Wisdom bow;
Though mute, you do not teach the less
A sermon read We in thy ghsstlinessr'
The Mel camille Library, on the Southeast
corner of Fifth and Library streets, was or
yanized in 1921, and contains at present
%, SIG volumes, including many very ancient
and curious publications. There are five OF
six other public libraries in the city, but
time would not permit me to visit them.
There are also in the city four incorporated
associations devoted to the cultivation Of the
fine arts. Among these is the Pennsylvania
Academy of Fine Arts, located on Chestnut
street, between Tenth and Eleventh. 1t is
the oldest and perhaps most important insti-
tuition of the kind in the United States, hav-
ing been organized in 1907 and now pos
sessing upwards Of 800 fine paintings, the
property of the institution being valued at
100000. The price of admission is %
cents. Among the paintings is Vests cele-
brated "Death on the Pale Horse" Witt
kamps "Relief of Leyden," and Allston's
"Dead Man Restored" There are also many
objects of sculpture, among which
are large groupe representing the battle be-
tween the Centaurs and Lapithe, and fine
collection of casts from the most celebrated
statues Of antiquity Venus de Medici, the
LAGOON, Apollo Belvidere, &c.
Of course every visitor to Philadelphia
should see Girard College and Laurel Hill
Cemetery. Visitors to these places must pos
sess ticket in order to gain admission.
These tickets cannot be had for money, but
are obtained cf certain gentlemen who are
authorized to issue them, and who seldom, if
ever, refuse an application. According to
Girard's will, however, no clergyman or Sec
tartan teacher is permitted to visit the insti-
tuition bearing his name. This, he states,
is done to preveut the students from receiv-
ing any sectarian bias, so that they may
choose for themselves when they come to
years of maturity The will provides that
students shall receive strict moral and reli-
gious training, but without any sectarian in,
fluence whatever. This College was founded
by Stephen Girard, and is designed for the
the gratuitous instruction and support OF
destitute orphans till they are 1s years Of
age, when they are to be bound out to
trades. The main building is one of the most
heautiful structures of modern times as q
work Of art alone, and monument of pri.
vate muniicence to the cause of education
such as few countries in the world possess
The general design Of the main building il
that of Greek temple, having eight columns
On nach end and eleven on each side It il