Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-31
Our Sinin GenlOgiSi.

printed below to that paper. Our own
readers we know will be much interested
in tho description of the homo of one
with whose writings they have become
so familiar and we take the liberty of
extendin. 10 them the invitation in the
last paragraph TO "Drop In and see the
| Doctor"
AN INTERESTING VISIT AT TIE HOME OF
DIR. IL. A. CUTTING, WITH BRIEF
DESCRIPTION OF WHAT MAY BE SEEN
THERE.
During visit at DR.. Cuttings at
Lunenburgh the past wini ,r, | had an
opportunity of examining his large libra
ry, extensive colleL lion of curiosities.
scientific apparatus, etc., which was of
great interest to me, and will endeav-
or TO give the readers of the MeSSen-
ger brief summary of what l saw,
although of course it can only be slight
approach to the reality as seen.
The library containing some eight
thousand volumes, is largely scientific,
and is believed to be as large or larger
than any private collection of the kind in
America. The departments of agriculture,
theology and medicine, are also quite full,
embracing many rare and valuable works
The principal objective point for most
visitors will be the cabinet" which is In
a large building devoted to the purpose,
where are to be found many thousand of
curiosities, nicely arranged, classified and
labeled, so as to be readily distine lished
and seen TO the ,st advantage.
was much interested in the vel large
and nicely mounted collection of the birds
of New England. did not suppose there
were so many different kinds to be found
in this part of the country. The taxider-
mist, w. Z. Balch, has performed
his work well, and these feathered
inhabitants of our fields and forests
make one of the prettiest exhibitions to
be found.
There are several kinds of eagles,
hawks and owls; the rarer species are
generally well represented. l noticed also
quite collection of birds nests and eggs,
and also a few 81 9cimens of animals, as
| the fox, mink, skunk and large porcu-
pine. Near by were some cases we'll filed
with insects which should be seen to be
appreciated. Here is good field for the
naturalist, and l wish our young people,
and children. could sec and study this or
similar collections OF animals, birds,
insects, and shells of Vermont, of which
| there is an extensive and interesting ex.
| hibit.
In one case were many curiosities from
India and other countries, in the shape of
nicely carved work, and various curious
articles peculiarly interesting when con-
nected with the source from which they
were obtained, or the age of the world
| they represent. A mummy's hand from
the pyramids of Egypt, made almost
indestructible by the embalmer's art, is q
sharp reminder of the short, Or lived arts of
preservation of today.
Fine specimens of marble, granite, slate,
and building stones from different parts
OF the world, ETC., occupy prominent
positions on the shelves, and are an inter
esting study of themselves.
Relating to the precious metals, there
are various specimens of gold from Cal.
| ifornia, Australia and Colorado, and from
| Lisbon, N. H., and various places in Yer
mont, and in form as found in their native
beds. Silver in its various crystalline
forms, and in combination with other sub.
stances. from South America, Europe and
our own country. Copper is to be seen in
great variety, crystalline and beautiful, as
well as massive. I saw several meteor
ties as they have fallen in different places,
among which is piece of meteoric iron,
polished and showing to &C ID advantage
its peculiar structure, being part of the
meteor that fell in Mexico. There are
specimens of the diamond as found in its
native condition and as improved by the
lapidary, SO brilliant that we can hardly
realize what is probably true, that they
arc formed like mineral coal from the
slow decomposition of vegetable material.
The collection of corals, opals, pearls and
precious gems is quite extensive making
Il pretty exhibit. There is the graphic
from which led pencils are made, and
long list of sulphidcs, oxides and oxygen
compounds, t. numerous - mention. In
this collection many are vely beautiful,
and others rare and valuable. | saw a
specimen of ash ostos, n peculiar rock so
much like colt IN in structure, and which
can be made into cloth, paper, etc., and
cleansed when soilt by burning in the
hottest fire.
The collection of rocks of New England
is of special interest, rs the doctor has
microscopic sections mo lie of them, so
that they can be carefully studied. The
fossils from Nova Sc otia, and l.om the
phosphate beds of South Carolina are
worthy of careiLl examination.
Of his laboratory apparatus especially
noticed IN arrangement for testing the
atmosphere of rooms for carbonic acid, by
which he is enabled to tell the exact
amount of this deleterious substance pres.
ent, in any part of the room or In any
given place. 1t appears to be very ingen-
ious and reliable. He has also a furnace
for testing building stone by heat, and
another for melting ores and whatever
he chooses, with delicate scales, and
electrical apparatus to use in connection
with very fine spectroscope, made in
London, by which means the smallest
amount of anything he is looking for in
analysis cannot escape detection. His
binocular microscope, with its almost in
Vulnerable connections, and the thousands
of objects, largely made by himself, afford
much Instruction.
DR.. Cutting has fine observat Dry, the
only one in the state, IS feet in height, in
which he has mounted first.class telc-
scope made by Alvin Clark one of the
luOSl uOlou LuitHuldCIuTeTS III the world.
The observatory is situated on an elevation
of 1850 feet above tide water, good Local
ton for SUI yey of the heavens, as also
to take fine view of the White mountains.
Although some % miles distant from
Mount Washington, the view is so perfect
that the cars running up tho mountain are
distinctly seen, and the different costumes
OF the parties there. In conclusion would
add that while the library of doctor Cut.
ting has been life long work, his cabinet
has ell been collected, the building erect
ed and all arranged within the last 16
years. as previous to that period his cabi-
net, the work of his younger years and
numbering over 10000 specimens, was
entirely destroyed by fire. not one being
saved, along with 1000 volumes or more Of
his library.
As curator OF the state Clbinet some.
thing OF the work of DR.. Cutting may be
seen at the capitol in Montpe ler, by tho
arrangement and preservation of the curl
osities there collie 3ted. He is a ready
writer and has furnished some oxceIcnt
descriptions of precious stones to various
iournals, as we'll az instructive CHAPTERS
on natural hiSt ,ru an1 a;out;Go e,,L;ao,.