The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1882-08-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.

w honiNOlONt A<s Os, Huil otii IOJN
Looking over The city from th,
dome of the Capitol the eye is at
tracted by large brown building
about ten or twelve squares 10 III,
west, which stands in the midst o
large park. Its lofty tnrreta, dia
mond.paned IS windowa, winding
disves, and handsome trees remihC
one of a lordly English castle ani
surroundings. Almost adjoining i
on the southeast side, Is a large, fla
building ofa muchmore modern ap
,pearance. The fret is the Smithson
ian Institution, the second, the Ma
tional Museum. Aside from the
Capitol.the city contains no places o
greater interest. or moro worthy III,
attention Of visitors.
The Smithsonian Institution wa
the generous gift of din EngIishman
James Smithsonian, an Englisl
chemist and mineralogis,, dying II
1929 left $500,O00 10 the United State,
Government With which ito found a
Washington. under the name O.
Smithsonian Institution. an establish
ment for the increase and dilflsion O
knowledge among men, In 1916
in accordance with the provisions OF
this request the Institution was or
ganized by Congress, and sll objectl
Of natural history, geology, ana niue
ralogy belonging tothe Government
were placed in ils charge. This col
leciion--small at first, consisting only
Of the articles got during the Wilkes
exploring expedition---has ihcfeased
with great rapiiily, additions being
continually made BY private contribu.
tions.and bequest sand /. through Ma.
tional surveys aud explorations. Tile
industrial exhibitions Of the country
especially that OF The Centennial
have also furnished q considerable
share, so that al the present lime the
exhibit 10 a very large and intcrest
ing one. In the way Of natural his
tory there are great many specl
mens OF birds and small animals, clas.
siiied according, to speries and label
ed. In one aection, for example,
may be seen all varieties OF rodents,
from the beayer down to the tiniest
field mouse. In another, all the birds
belonging to the grouse family, prai.
rie hens, quails, parlridges, ect, III
another all kinds Of fiiumihing birds
But the collection Of large animals
istiot SO complete, the lion. elephant
tiger, rhiuoceros, hippotamua, aud
others being entirely runrepresent-
ell. The geological and mineralogi
cal exhibit Is verv good, owing II
the numerous surveying expeditions
undertaken by the Government. eacl
OF which purs it's discovered treas
hfes into this store-house.
In addition to these, the Institution
possesses many Interesting curiosities
tArmsandlarmors, tools aud orna'
meits Of various savage aud half-civ'
ilized nations, antiquities of different
Indian and Chinese Idols
Egyptian aud Indian muinmics, the
Egyptian believed to be three thous-
and years old. But 1t is impossible
to enumerate in a letter Of thii
length even a small portion of III,
articles OF interest which have beer
collected aud placed on exhibition b,
the Institution. I cannot pass, how
ever, without more particular allu.
sion to one or two OF unusual inter
est. In case of South American
curiosiiies Is a human head measur
ing only -four inche3 in its greatest
diameter. This comes from the
Amazon, and is a war trophy Of thu
Indians Of that river. An enemy
being killed, the skin is cut around
his neck and then loosencd and slip
ped over the head, The flesh Is then
removed and the skin soaked for sew.
eral hours III an infusion Of hcrbs
Then small peoples are heated ant
put inside the skin, aud the latter Il
shaken SO that the peoples shall touch
every part. The skin isthen soaked
again until soft. This operation Il
repeated until thcIskin is contracted Il
the desired size. II then sornew ha
resembles indian rubber III textu Q
preserves tho original features II
their exact form. The hair on the
specimen possessed by the Institution
Is quite long and very fine. Another
case contains shirt, tobacco pouch
and several articles Of use made o
human skin. Fancy q man wearing
his ene,n y's skin for ashirt!
The National Museum was estab
lished by Congress in 1872 aud il
1858 was transferred 10 tho, care o
the Smithsonian Institute, Its OBJ
ject which Is not generally y understood
is most comprehensive, sone. It il
Intended 10 serve as vast recort
hall for ell that is Immediately con
nected with man and his daley lite
In.short every thing that man USE
throughout the whole world, aud, al
far as possible, everything that h,
has used In the past, will here find IL
represen,a'ise; Ing implements Q
war, ne honsenolu utensils ,ne 10Y
.he maonanicai contflvances, tne COS
tunes OF eacn nation, as aar as ln'
pas! Is pene.raele, wiI' ss oe - iouna ner.
properly ciassined and arranged
Inc Museum ls ye. y, M its lnianc'
ana consequently ia'her oafe OF 90