South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1882-08-04
Letter from Washington.
tFeop our regular Correspondent,
WASHINGTON, d. C., July 81

It's lofty turrets, dianond-panedw iud-
ows, winding drives, & handsome trees
remind one Of lordly English castle
&surroundings. AlIost adjoining it,
on the southeast side, is large, flat
building of much more modern APP
pearance. The first il the Snithscn-
nan Institution, aud the second, the
National Museum Aside from the
Capitol, the city contains no places OF
! greater interest, or more worthy the
attention OF visitors.
Tie Smithsonian Institution was
Tie generous gift OF an Englishman.
james Smithson, an English chemist
ana hlneralogist diving in 1929 left
$4,000 TO the United States Gov.
ernIncnt with which ito found at
Washington, under the name of the
Smithsonian Institution, an establish
heht FOR the increase and diffusion.
oi knowledge among men. In 1916.
III accordance with the provisions OF
this bequcst, tie Institution was or
ga"i'cd BIZ Congress, and all objects
OF natural history, geology, and min
cralogy Belonging to the Government
were placed IN It's charge This col
ioctlOn-small III first, consisting on
~ of the articles obtained during
the Wilkes exploring expedition
has increased with great rapidi.
~, additions being continually made
by private contributions and beqnests
and through National surveys and cx.
plorations. The industrial exhibitions
ot the country. especially that of the
Centennial, have also furnished Il We
~ considerable share, so that at the
present time the exhibit is very
large and interesting one. In the
way of natural history there are ii
great many specimens OF birds aud
small animals, classified according TO
species and labeled In one section,
Tor example, may be seen all varieties
OF rodents, from the beaver down to
the tiniest field mouse. In another.
all tire birds belonging to the grouse
family. prairie hens, quails, partridgcs.
etc. In another. all kinds OF hum
ming birds. But the collection of
large animals is not 50 complete, the
lion, elephant, tiger, rhino"eros, hip.
potamus, and many others being en-
tirely unreprescnted. The geological
and meteorological exhibit is very
| good. owing to the numerous survey.
ing expeditions undertaken by the
Government, each of which ponrs its
dicoyered treasures into this store
house.
In addition to these, the Institution
possesses mauy interesting curiosities
Arms and armors, tools and orna-
mcnts OF various savage and half.civ
ililed nations, antiquities of different
countries, Indian and Chinese idols.
Egyptian and Indian mummes, the
Egyptian believed to he three thous
and years old Bat it is impossible
TO enumcrate III II letter OF this length
even Il small portion Of the articles OF
Interest which have been collected
and placed on exhibition by the In.
stnution. cannot pass, however,
without more particular allusion to
one or two of unusual interest. Ia a
case ofSOutE American curiositics is Il
human head measuring only four in
chcs in its greatest diameter. This
comes from the Amazon, and is q war
trophy OF the indians OF that river
An enemy being killed, the skin is
cut around his neck and then loosen
Ell and slipped of over the head
| The flesh is then removed aud the
skin soaked for several hours in am
infusion of herbs. Then small pcb-
bIcs are heated and put inside the
| skin, and the latter is shaken 50 4hat
the pebbles shall touch every part
The skin Is then soaked again until
soft THIS operation isrepeated until
the skin Is contracted TO the desired
size. it then somewhat resembles
india rubber in texture, and preserves
the original features tn their exact
form. The hair on the specimen pos.
scssed by the Institution i quite long
and very fine. Another case con-
tains a shirt, tobacco pouch, and sew.
cral other articles of use made of hui
man skin. Fancy man wearing his
cnemy's skin for shirt!
The National Museum was cstab-
Ilshed by Congress IN 1912, and in
1858 was transferred to the care Of
the Smithsonian Institution. Its Oh.
jcct, which is not generally under
stood, is most comprehensive one.
1t is intended TO serve "a a vast rec
ord bal! for all that Is Immediately
connected with man and his daily life
In short, everything that man uses,
throughout the whole world. and, as
far a. possible, everything that bc has
used ~ the past, VIII here find its rep
rcscutative. The implements of war.
the household utensils, the toys. the
mechanical contrivnccs, the costumes
OF each nation, as far as the post is
pcuctrable, will be found here pro.