The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-04-03


in memory of Lincoln stands here In
front of the City Hall, but it is COM
small and merely local In
its character. A movement is on foot
also, to build Lincoln monument or
statue at Springfield, Illinois. Every
person who has passed through Bal |
timore has seen the noble Wash
lngton monument there. After |
all this artistic commemoratlon |
of these immortal names that |
were not born to die" their most glo- |
rious memorials are IN the hearts of |
the American people. NV ashingtOn,
Lincoln" repeated in the mind, tells
a grander story than "storied urn or
animated bust" Yet these structures
of enduring material have their uses
as outward manifestations of the ma
tons gratitude, and we utter a God
speed" and offer our contributions 10
encouragement of the work of their
erection.
One of the scientific wonders Of
the city is the museum connected with
the Surgeon Generals Bureau, 10
Gated in the third story of Ford's
Theatre, the building in which Presi-
dent Lincoln was assassinated. The
interior Of the edifce has been rear
ranged, all the theatrical fixtures
having bean taken out. The first and
second stories are used by attaches Of
the Surgeon Generals Office. The
outside of the building remains un-
changed. Admission to the museum
is free.
Here may be seen the poor, frail,
human body in all its parts, whether
diseased, distorted, or mutilated by
the missiles of war or casualty. Hun
dreds of skulls, bones. muscles and
| other parts are shown, with bullets,
| pieces of shell, Indian arrows ami
other deadly objects sticking in the
wounds. Besides these thrilling
sights, the instruments used by tie
surgeons, the plans of hospital, the
patterns of bayoDets, bullets, cannon
| proiectiles and cartridges, Indian and
| other skeletons, Indian curiositiee,
skeletons of animals, fishes and birds,
and a thousand and one other curi0s-
tiles rivet the attention of the visitor
| The whole mass of wonders are com
pletely preserved, arranged and class
| flied In scientific manner and vOlumin-
| Gus catalogues give the man of science
| full information Of technical kind,
aud at the same time enables the or
/ binary observer to know the facts and
| circumstances connected with each
| case, The Government has not eX
| pended money In any other manner
| that is more benefit to humanity
| The feelings that visitor experiences,
after passing through this museum,
are very affecting. One is struck with
horror at the fearful suffering typihed
by the objects exhibited, and moved
with gratitude to a merciful God
who spares US so much suffering to
which our delicate organism subjects
US. Truly, we are fearfully and
wonderfully made" The medical and
surgical profession are also exalted in
the estimation of those who see so
many wonderful evidences of the
progress of their science, and of that
almost miraculous skill which snatches
the poor sufferer from casualty aud
disease-away from the brink Of the
grave. Oh, the thousands Gu thou
sands OF lives that were saved BY
medical aud surgical skill during the
rebellionl This fearful record tells a
sad story, yet one full of mercy.
On the opposite side of the street
/
located, is the house to which
There is the bed on which he died,
covering it. twenty-five cents is
charged for admission. 1t is private
affair.
[ mention one result of the GER
tainty Of scientific demonstration. 1t
was part of the defense at the Wirz
trial that he could not have abused
the Andersonville prisoners so badly
as charged, because his arm was
broken and disabled. After his exc
cutiOn his arm was dissected and
the bones are to tell their own tale.
A piece-Of the rope used to hang the
| miscreant is also on exhibition
By the way, the Old Capitol Prison,
ia which WirZ was confned, a square
from the Capitol, has been converted
by private parties into an elegant
block of residences, with a Mansard
roof and all the modern improvements.
There are several large cOnserva-
tories here, filled with rare plants
indigenous and exotic. One Is at the
Presidents House, open on Fridays
| " tue puUliCs
Another is in front of the Capitol.
and belongs to the Government, and
is under the control of the Agricul-
tural Bureau. In passing through,
the visitor fancies that he is in some
tropical forest, and instinctively looks
around, above. and under him, for
animals, birds, and reptiles, appropri-
ate to such place. Here there are
a number of men employed under ex-
perienced dire ton In experimenting
upon the various kinds of plants fit
for use and ornament, and the means
of their adaptation to our various
climates.
The Smithsonian Institute-further
west toward the Potomac, in the midst
of spacious and well improved
grounds-is a very imposing archi-
teetural structure, built of red sand
stone, and varied in outline with re-
cesses and projections, like an Old
World castle or university. 1t is filled
with a very extensive collection of
scientific and natural wonders. Part
of it was accidentally burned several
years ago but will soon be repaired. 1t
was the gift of JAS. Smithson, an hon
ored Englishman, to the States of
| America, in trust for the cause Of
science, and in order to promote the
increase and diffusion of knowledge
| among men," A noble monument to
| a noble mani
Judge Ray, of our Supreme Court,
! has been quite i'll here, but is conva-
| lescing. Ditto with DIR. Sharp, Of
| OGensville.
a