Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-11
itUre Museums for Priya
Dwellings,.
Miniature

From Harper's Bazar
Household pets are the possession Of every
| family. and their loss invariably brings sad
! ness next akin to the grief OccasiOned by the
death of a dear relative or friend.
In the early days Of our housekeeping we
commenced preserving and mounting these
friends of the family" feeling confident that
after years we should be glad to look upon
| them as they appeared in life. and especially
thereby to teach the children lessons in natural
history and a fondnesS for dumb animals, as
we'll as to bring before them those creatures to
which We're attached many tale of long ago
Thus preserving first faithful old Carlos: then
his rnsehievous companion, a frolicsome little
biack-and-tan terrier: next our geeful warbler
Dickie old Tattha, the cat of fifteen years of
age: and pair of pretty white rabbits left stiff
and dead, but quite perfect save for the cruel
wound of the weasel that had sucked away
their life blood. But space forbids our relating
all the Affections time brought to our dwelling,
as we wish to describe the method by which our
accumulation of few Years has been made to
| form household object of unusual interest
and beauty, which calls forth the admiration OF
| all who see it.
After using cabinet case and glass shades of
various sizes, we finally arranged our entire col
lection IN large recess in the library, where it
! forms an appropriate ornament, as well as q
ready means OF interesting study.
1t must be born in mind that animals and
| birds that have been preserved by taXidermy
| must be kept as nearly air-tight as possible
therefore we found this littie alcove a suitable
! place for such Al arrangement, which, in this
| case, was made into ''bt" Of wild-woodsy scene
ry, that appeared just the spot for our birds and
| animals.
| The walls were painted green on each side,
! but on the back We're made to represent a rural
! landscape which receded to I. great distance by
means of rudely painted yet fine perspective.
On one side weii-shaped tree is covered with
/ paper leaves stimulating maple Out any foliage
may be sUbstituted); ON the opposite. q miniature
! mountain is formed OF rock-wOrk piled in pic
| turesque confusion, with ivy vines wild elena
| tbs, and green moses. clambering over and
| hanging in graceful festOons from the project
| lng ellis, the front slOping into green bank
| formed of heavy brown paper crushed and bent
t into irregular depressOns. then covered with
! glue and thickly sprinked with sand and gravel.
and merging into green slope by covering with
green moss.
This bank rises from lake made by covering
a piece of the floor with a large fragment Of
mirror edged with stones and moss lchen-
covered stump. and tufts of dried and dyed
! grass, ferns and catkins Across one end little
rustic bridge adds to the picturesque effect.
While ciumps of green shrubs. fallen tree and
climbing vines make q little glen in which our
| various pets have found an apparently congo
NAL tomb. as they all appear as natural as in
| NE various birds perch on the tree branches
idpHitS peep lTOu COOi green c0YcrtS beneath
the stumps. squirrels are Ieaping across the
upper limbs and climbing up the trunks of the
| trees, while the three dogs, in different posi-
tons. watch the movements with anxious eyes.
! The door and q small portion OF cottage roof
! hidden almost by trees and vines aDnear i'm one
side, and here the few fenes that we lave sloyed
and lost" are To be seen in different appropriate
| positions.
| few butterflies and other insects are seen
| upon the lew flowers introduced into the scene
"a hat hnft
Guilty mace to harmonic with the other parts Of
! the scene. and impaired rather artificial an
| peaTance, so we confined ourselves to collec-
ton OF purple, crimson and blue mornin@-mlo-
/ ries over the cottage door. wild clematis on the
forest trees, and few ciumps of cav eyeliast-
lli@s CSeled almost by surrounding green) in the
| foreground with bright scarlet berries OF bar
/ tfidSe-vine as ground, upon which the raY in
sects ma meet resting place. The ceiling IA
painted TO represent clear sky The snaee
which this rural little museum occupies is oppo-
! site an east window and between a deem Chin
ney and side wall about ten feet long and five
| feet deep. the front inciOsed with glazed sash
and thus alfordln. an unObstructed view of the
/ whole.
| We are now contemplating the arrangement
OF second museum with other animals since
obtained which is to be in imitation Of winter
scene. with snow. icices and the .sere and vel
| low ieaf Any White mineral powder mixed
With 'frOstin9" and diamond powder" viii
impaft brilliant effect. and not become djscol-
ored, as Will any vegetable material. Tie snow.
/ frost. etc, thus made, must be sprinklcd upon
| paste, instead of glue. which would discdlor
ltif 1T became damp. As there is no limit OF time
| To WHICH the preservation of these spcci,ncus
may not be extended. il vii! be seen how valu-
able such collection must become or course
| in arranging such miniature museum. great
care is required in using trees. etc. of proper
/ proportion. not Oyercrowding or giving con-
| fused appearance.