The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-24

"
amusement is not complete without museum
and yet there has been nothing of the kind in
Philadelphia since the destruction of Barnums
Museum until few months ago, when the new
and handsome structure at the corner of Ninth
and Arch streets was opened by Messrs. Carn-
cross, DiXey 81 Simpson. Barnum's Museum
in this city was great attraction not only to
our citizens but to strangers, and the establish
ment conducted for many years by Mr.. Barnum
in New York was, every one knows, one of
the most popular places of amusement in that
CITY, Every visitor TO New York went, as a
matter of course, to the museum, and those who
found the time hanging heavily on their hands
could always devise way of killing it in an
agreeable manner by inspecting the immune
rable curiosites or by listening to the perform
ances in the ''lecture-room." 1t needs no argu-
ment to prove that well conducted museum
fills place that other places OF amusement do
not, and such an establishment as that now in
operation at Ninth and Arch streets deserves
the hearty support of the people
of Philadelphia if only for the
reason that it is an inducement for strangers
to come here, and is a valuable auxiliary to the
business interests of the city. Mr.. Robert
Simpson, to whose enterprise the citizens of
Philadelphia are indebted for the new museum,
is entitled to great credit for entering into such
q 81 ecuation at all, as well as for the very COM
plete and satisfactory manner in which he has
ompiisl ed his object of giving Philadelphia
frst-c ass museum The building at the cor
of Ninth and Arch streets is not only an
architectural ornament to the city, but it is
most admirably adapted for the purposes in
tended The various apartments are arranged
so as TO be easy of access and so as to show the
various objects of interest they contain 10 the
very best advantage. More important even
than handsome architecture and convenient
arrangement is the fact that the
whole edi6ce is constructed In the most SUBJ
stantal manner possible, SO that there is not
the slightest doubt of its being able to sustain
the greatest pressure that can be placed upon
1t, while the provisions for the egress of the
audience are most ample, so that the entire
building easily be emptied of crowd
within very few minutes. No pains have been
spared to make the building as perfect as pos
sible in these particulars, and it can be visited
with less fear of accident than almost any place
of amusement in the country.
The museum has started with a most interest
ing and valuable collection of curiosites that
will well repay many examinations. The fourth
floor, which extends over the whole building,
and which, by the way, is supported
upon heavy wooden trusses, so that it
is quite as strong as the rest
of the building, is occupied in part by fine me-
nagerie which contains a young elephant,
rhinoceros, alligator, some magnificent
lions, tigers and leopards, monkeys, zebra,
sacred Indian OK, an ostrich, and great variety
of other animals Upon this floor are also placed
a number of the Chinese curiosities brought
over 0y the Perry expedition. This collection
comprises a great variety of life-size figures
representing the Chinese Emperor and Empress
and their attendants Chinese court of justice,
episodes of Chinese home lfe ferocous-looking
Chinese idols, and an immense number of
magnificent specimens of the manufactures of
the Celestial Empire. These Chinese curiosities
formerly belonged to Mr.. j. R. Peters, and they
are valued at 100000. In the large room upon
the fourth floor the glass-blower is at
work, and the visitor will find it interesting to
stop for few moments and inspect her opera
tions. Upon the three floors of the front part
of the building are located portions of the Chi
nese curiosities and the innumerable articles
comprised in the famous Hoffnagle collection.
These curiosities were collected by DR.. Hoff-
nagle during a long residence in Asia
They consist of Indian idols, carvings, metal
workings, silk in all the processes of
manufacture from the cocoon to the finished
cloth, elegantly embroidered articles of Dress
pictures, and innumerable specimens of oriental
industry. Upon the second floor is life-size
group of wax figures representing Christ and
His apostles seated at the last supper and in the
middle of the room the armless woman is at
work, sewing, writing, and performing all the
functions of the fingers with her toes. All the
living curiosities of any Importance will be
found at the museum from time to time, and
add tions will constantly be made to the per-
manent collection, so that something fresh and
Interesting will always be on sight there.
prominent feature of the museum is the
'1ecture-room," in which performances are
given every evening and every Wednesday and
Saturday afternoons. This is very pretty and
comfortable little theatre, to which all the
visitors to the museum are admitted without
extra charge, except for seats in the best parts
OF the house. Farces, vaudevilles, and specta-
cular pieces of unobjectionable character are
produced by an excellent company, particular
care being taken to adapt the performances to
the tastes of family parties, and to prevent any
thing offensive from being said or done. A
vaudeville theatre conducted on this principle
ought to be popular for its own sake but this
one is additionally interesting from the fact
that it is attached to the museum. At present
dramatization of Dumas novel of Monte
Christie, which is being produced in handsome
style as holiday piece, now occupies the
boards. This makes a very attractive perform
ance that affords much innocent amusement for
both old and young.
The features we have mentioned of course
only represent in very general manner the in
ducements which the museum holds out for
those who wish to be amused to invest twenty
five cents occasionally, and we recommend our
readers n and sea- for thausaIvas Tho MN