The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-10-27

The National Museum-Hntursi History,
Botany and Art az the Park.
There is already in the Park an admirable
nucleus for grand national museum-the
commencement of q collection that will some
day rival the finest in the world-that will
equal that of the Geological Gardens In London
or the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. We give
an account in another column Of the acquisi-
tons made up TO the present time. Without
noise or flourish of any kind, it will be seen
that there has been brought together in this
splendid public resort collection of beasts
and birds that is even now better than any
private collection ever exhibited here. From
the quietness with which all has been done the
people scarcely know, what is the literal
truth, that there is now open to the public at
the Park better museum than any ever before
seen in this city. Here are fine speci-
mems OF different varieties Of the American
bear, the American bison, the Hindoo bull,
the American deer, the Central American pee
cary, the Mica lion, ant bears, prairie wolves,
monkeys of both the Old and the New World,
and many smaller animals. The collection OF
birds is large and flne. Nearly all visitors to
the Park have noticed the splendid specimens
Of the American eagle and of the swan.
Seventy-two swans have been presented
twenty-five by the Senate Of the city q Ham
burg, twenty-four. by the Company Of vint-
ncrs Of London, and twenty-six by the Com
pany Of Dyers of the same city. There are
storlls, Aamingoes, pelicans-in short, large
collection of BIRDS many of them quite rare
and very beautiful.
An excellent start has also been given to
an art department for this national museum.
Mrs. Crawford, the widow Of the artist, has
contributed full set Of her husbands
works-splendid pieces of sculpture, bas re-
Hefs and sketches There are in this one
donation eighty-seyen pieces-making alone a
noble gallery. One marble statue has been
presented and some fine bronzes. All the ari-
Giles in the art collection are voluntary contri-
buttons, as are also the larger number of those
in natural history and botany. Though it has
from the first been contemplated and intended
that what is necessary for the perfection OF the
noble museum thus begun shall be bought, it
has so far been necessary to spend but very
little money. Our own citizens-mcn OF
wealth, artists and othcrs-have taken up the
idea in the best spirit, and thus show their
readiness to further it by all means in their
power. In their far away travel they rcmem-
Der home, and the Park has experienced the
benefit Of this. One liberal citizen, seeing the
busy beavers building their strange villages
FAR out in Idaho, thought at once how
rare curiosity such a beaver village
would be on oac of the streams or
ponds in The Park. and at his own expense
sent pair of beavers to San Francisco and all
the way round to this city. Unfortunately one
of these little Westerners died, but the gentle
man, no way inundated, means to send an
othc'. How magnificent museum will such
disposition make. The Park, from one end
to the other, will be all museum. Beavers in
the out Of the way ponds, swans on the open
lake. strange rumnanis browsing on the
meadows timid guselles lcaping away behind
every copse, and strange plants and rare
flowers on every hand. How much of cduca-
ton there wonld be in such museum! How
much of RETIRING influence for every class oT
the people! How much better such q rcsor!
than the low novels Of the city-tie pur!ieus
of the rnmshnp-whcre all has the contami-
nation Of inher ut humbug and deception, the
contamination Of 9Th, physical, mental and
moral!
What is now necessary is that the Park Com
missioners should do all that lies in their
power to foster and encourage the spirit that
needs nothing else 10 make this great NATIONAL
institution. They should issue circular on the
subject, 20 be sent especially 10 the American
consuls at every foreign port by that means
they viii put themselves in communication
with all Americans in foreign countries, and
viii take an excellent practical step toward
the enlargement Of the collection. Every
American abroad would take pride in con-
trbuiing, and thas The Commissioners will
secur, the larger animals of Asia and Africa,
or they will learn sf opportunities TO purchase.
All the collections in Europe have duplicates,
and our citizens abroad If shown exactly how,
would secure many OF these for us. Much less
money would have-to be spent by the Commits
sioners than is thought. What is wanted is
tact In the management Let them manage
details properly-the public spirit Of our citi--
zcns will do the rcst--and such collection,
gathered from all the quarters Of the globe by
the public spirit and munifcence Of our
citizens, while it win be noble monument to
that spirit and masni6cence, will also be the
most magnificent collection ever made.
TIE CAMPAIGN. IN Ngw JEesEr-THE Cox