New-York tribune., 1878-05-11
RELICS AND RARITIES.
THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

THE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.
A NEW ROUTE BY THE GILBERT RoAD-sPIING RE-
CEPTIoN OF THE MUsEUM-TooLs AND WEAPONS
OF PRIMITIVE MAN IN ALL AGES AND CLIMEs-
SPECIAL LIBRARIES FOR STUDENTS OF SCIENCE.
Since its opening, last December, the Amer
lean Museum Of Natural History has acquired many nov
elites and Improvements The means OF reaching l. are
BETTER although the projected extension OF the Green
wch street Elevated Railway to scventyseyentht. on
Nntb-ave which will bring the terminus Of that road
alongside of the Museum yet thing OF the future,
and will probably be delayed till the double track is COM
pleted over the rest OF that route. But the Gilbert
Elevated Railroad is likely prefer facilities for
reaching the spot, Central Park carriages are e1-
pected to convey passengers from the station on Fifty
nInth.st. and sxth-avc., 10 the Museum, through
norton OF the Park for cents fare 1t is understood
that the Gilbert Road will tender free excursion
its route Tuesday TO the bearers of invitations 10
the Spring reception the Museum and thus give them
the opportunity Of seeing two sets OF wonders IN one
afternoon.
The very full account OF the contents OF the museum
given at the time OF lis opening and recently repub
lished in TRIBUNE EXTRA No. 40 has supplied readers
with general notion OF the appearance Of the structure
and its contents. Some changes have been recently
made in the arrangement OF the specimens and "A few
large cases been added to the number n the lower
hail. so that all the stuffed mammals are now on that
floor They arc presented in striking and picturesque
attitudes and make exceedingly snowy and lifellke
display The groups are arranged in more orderly
sequence than before to bring tho nearly related
families OF animals closely together In the second
story the greatest changes have been made with view
to devote the gallery entirely TO ethnoogy and archie
oogy and all except four there are now occupied
with specimens illustrating that branch OF research 1t
is intended that each containing chronological
material shall havo also map Of the region occupied
bv the tribe or nation to which refers and photographs
of tho present appearance Of localities where the spec
mems were found.
CUSTOMS AND IMPLEMENTS OF PRIMITIVE RACES.
In carrying out the plan for map OF each region once
occupied by ancient tribes that have left relics
inhabited by people whose implements are quaint and
curious, Professor Bckmore, the superintendent Of the
Museum has led toward the construction OF large
map this country cOorcd TO represent Its former
cupaion by distinct Of Indians. This work has
compelled great research but the results sufficiently
striking to repay the labor. curious facts have
been already elected in the Of this inquiry.
Thus it is found that mound-building sur
yived as q custom to a date fully within the
historic period. The collections of implements
and ornaments from various tribes and the relics from
Their graves will prove Of service In tracing their his
tory. But this museum offers the additional advantage
Of presenting in adjoining the handwork and tools
OF the natives Of remote countries and uncylzed Islands
The opportunity is thus given for comparing the work Of
uncutured people either side OF the globe There
some strangely suggestive curiosites from the South
Seas the ervey Islanders for instance, using adze
fastened on elabOratey carved handle as the en-
blem OF authority, in shape which at once re-
minds the visitor OF the and fasces employed
for like purpose in ancient Rome. From the
Sandwich Islands there is the "womens club"
that exclusively for the convenience OF the softer
and by them TO kill wounded enemies after bat
te far more murdcrOus instrument in the next
case is the hari-kar knife with which the japanese
effect their happy dispatch y" 1t is sharpcned both
edges. Among the rare things from the island Of
Sumatra prayer. written the outside OF bamboo,
ana literally two yards long. IL has served double
as weapon OF Its tribe OF canubals,
described as such. many centuries ago, by an Arabian
yOyager. and somewhat recently known TO fame by
having two American missionaries from Amherst.
REMAINS OF ANTiQUITY-sPECIAL LIBRARIES.
Large additions have been made to the collections OF
relics from Europe OF prehistoric man these supple
ment the de Morgan collection which represents the
stone age Of northwestern France, and many
choice specimens of flint tools and weapons from lie
Grand Pressigny, village the river Ncnne, where
there seems 10 have been ancient manufactOry OF
such implements. The 'rcndeer age Is hneiy Illus
trated by relics found in the OF DOrdOgnc by the
Marquis de Vbraye the bones OF reindeer ana Uf the
EleDds DTmi0eRius carefully worked by hand, and
some are engraved There are numerous axes and
chIsels from the swiss lake dwellings; most OF these
tools are set In stags hOrts from the same locality
there are bronze TazOis knives bracelets armets and
harpina and several clay vases From England there
are specmen implements OF the early stono age (;
from Ireland bronze tools; from Greece cutting
instruments OF fine ObsdiaD This department is IN the
charge OF enthusiastic collector Mr. GastOn H. feuar-
dent and all specimens selected BY him or by
NJ Morgan the places where they were discovered.
Comparing these relics with those Of the North American
a striking similarity perceived both in the choice Of
materials, far atainabe and in the methods OF
im pements were devised can only be known by sndy-
ing similar objects employed by barbarous tribes al the
present day.
Tne museum is rapidly obtaining special libraries
which will largely contribute to It's usefulness The rs