Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-08-11
WASHINGTON LETTER,
trrom Our Regular Correspondent.


Looking over the city from the dome Of
the Capitol the eye is attracted by large
brown building, about ten or twelve squares
To the west. which stands in the midst Of
large park Its lofty trrrels, diamond.
paned windows, winding drives, and hand
some trees remind one Of lortly English
castle aud surroundings. Almost adjoining
IL, on the southeast side, is large, fiat
building OF much more modern appear
nnce. The first il the Smithsonian Institu.
ton, and the second, the National Museum.
Aside from the Capitol, the city contains
no places of greater interest, or more worthy
the attention OF visitors.
The Smithsonian Institution was The
generous gift of an Englishnsn. james
Smitbson, an English chemist and miner
nlogist, dying IN 1929 lelt $500 900 10 the
United States Government with which TO
found at Washington, under the name of
the Smithsonian Institution, an establish
ment for the increase aud diffusion OF
knowledge among men," In 1916, in nc
cordance with the provisions of this be-
quest, the Institution was organized by
Congress, and all objects OF natural history,
geology, and mineralogy belonging TO the
Government were placed in lls charge.
This col'eclion-small at first, consisting
only OF the articles obtained during the
Wilkes exploring xpeditiom--hns increns.
ell with great rnpi'lity, additions being
continually made by private contributions
aud bequesls and through National surveys
and explorations. The industrial exhibi.
tions of the country, especially that Of the
Centennial, have also furnished II very con.
siderable share, 80 that ut the present time
the exhibition isa very large and interest,
ing one. In the way of natural history
there are great many specimens OF lirts
and small animals. classified according TO
species and labeled. In one sertiun, forex
ample, may be seen all v,riei:es of rodents,
from The beaver down To the liniest field
mouse. In mo her, all the birds belong
ing to the grouse family. prairie hens,
qnnils, pnr,ridges, etc. Ia another, ali
kinds uf humming birds. But the collec.
zion Of large animals is not ~ complete, the
lion, elephant, tiger, rhinoceros, hipputa-
mns,and mnny Others hens entirely unrep
resented. The geological mineralugical
exhibit is very gou,,, owing To the nuner-
rus surveying expeditions undertaken by
the Government, each OF which pours its
discovered treasures into tins store-hunse
In uudit OIL to these, the Institution p.s-
ses-es many interesting ctriusities. Arms
| and armors, tools and ornaments of various
| savage and hall civiliz ii ations, an,iqni-
ties of different countries. Indian and Chi
nese idols, Egyptian and Indian mumniies,
| the Egyptian believed to be three thousand
years old. But il is impossible To ennmer.
ate IN II letter of this length even small
portion Of the articles uf interest which
have been collected and placed ON exhibi
tion by the institution. l cannot pass,
however, without more particular allusion
to one or two OF unusual interest. In II
case OF South American curiosites is hn
| man head measuring only hour inches in
it's greatest diameter. This comes from
the Amazon, and is II war trophy of the
Indians of that river. An enemy being
killed, the skin is cut around his neck and
then oosened and slipped off over the head.
The flesh is then removed and the skin
| soaked for several hours in an infusion OF
herbs. Then small pebbles are heated and
put inside the skin, and the latter is sha-
ken 50 that the pebbles shall touch every
part. The skin is then soaked again until
soft. This operation is repeated III til the
skin il contracted to the desired size. II
then somewhat resembles india rubber in
texture, and preserves the original fea:-
ures in their exact form. The hair on the
specimen possessed by the Institution is
| a al.
contains shirt, tobacco pouch, and several
other articles of Use made of human skin
Fancy II man wearing his enemy's skin for
ii shirt
The National Museum was established
by Congress in 1872, and in 1858 was trans.
feried 10 the care of the Smithsonian Insti.
tuition. Its object, which is not generally
understood, is most comprehensive one
1t is intended to serve AZ vast record hall
for all that is Immediately connected with
man and his daily lite. In short, every
thing That man uses, throughout the whole
world, and, as far as p'ssible, everything
that he has used IN the past, will here find
its representative. The implements Ol
war, the hous, hold u ensils, the lovs, Tie
mechanical cont nirivances, the costumes ui
each nation, ns far as the past is pemetra'
ble, will be found here properly classi
fed and arranged. The Museum is ye
in its infancy and is consequently rather
bare of objects, although il has good ex
hibit OF pottery and IA very interesting col
lection Of puppets, illustrating the modes o
life and dress among the different classes %
the Chinese but when once thoroughly il
order its al ii to the student of the hislor,
Of men and nations will be Invaluable
Aud as il grows in age its value will IN
crease 1t will show To future generation
the style OF dre's OF the present day, th
ware with which we spread our tables, thu
implements OF farming which we Ike, th
mnsicnI instruments which delight OH
ears, our methods of obtaining heat an,
light, the very stones which we use IL
lmilding, for there is already an excellen
collection Of building stone specimens OF
exhibition. And, by the way, the ober
yer OF few generations hence will proabl.
he lost IN wonder that we could live con
tentedly under such dis advantages, jrs IL
we wonder now IN thinking of The days o
the siagecoach, the flint and steel, IN
qul pen, aud the penny post. When we re
member all hat has been superseded am
swept away in the pist century, we can re-
nlize The valne OF mn institution designed +
perpetuate the existence Of every arlicl
IN use.
The building in which these objects ar
to he preserved is 327 feel squire, and con
p tains $4,000 square lcct Of available space
!, besides 80 rooms la be used M offices.
was here that the lnA Inauguration Bal
was held. The building, upon that 0cca
sion. was thrown open To The public 10
the first time. II had just been completed
and much admiration VIVA expressed 10
its architectural elegance, both as 10 de
sign aud workmanship. Since then til
: managing officers have been engaged i
arranging and classifying such Objects II
they already have on hand. This work
e going on rapidly and in fifteen or lwen
years time the exhibition win probably b
the most Interesting in the world. Pa
tieuce and energy are al that are neeesSa
, ry To make the enterprise IL complete sue
: cess. SPOT.
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