National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-18
MoprL1Ne 1N rhr MusEuM.
The Taxidermist and Stlli.Iife molder at
Mnrk on Ethnologlcal Specimens.

A little man, with beard and eyeglasses was
molding an arm out of son clay in an obscure
room of the second story of the National Mu.
| scum Saturday afternoon. gate placed at
the head ofthe stairs leading to the room said
mo Admittancc," and the sightseers who
thronged the building all day, stopped at the
gate. There was another man in the room
with the man who was modelling the arm. He
sat in corner at atablc, under window, and
also wore spectacles, which he would take off
| occasionally and wipe with his shandkerchief
In his left hand he. held the body Of a dead
bird. In his right hand was pair of pinch
crs. This was the taxidermist of the museum.
me bird he WINS preparing was an old iowl,
and so slow and accurate was his work that
at the end Of half an hour he had seemingly
| made no progress Around him on the walls
were almost every variety Of the feathery tribe
in different stngcs OF treatment About 100
| queer.looking instruments were. laying on a
table. adjoining the one at which he was
working - .
the arm he was inolding critically when the
| reporter stood beside him. He looked up once,
and then returning his regard to the arm
busied himself again. On. large table by MS
side was bronze figure representing negro
boy fishing. In little stream in front of the
| rock where the boy was sitting disported
several bronze fish about the tempting bait AZ
the end otthe line. Az the other end of the
with a pipe in ono hand and fishing line
cQUcd loosely around the fingers Of the other.
| phe expression of the face was liiclike and his
fbosturc rs natural Sitting beside the negro
\ boy on the table was n lifeisizcd bronze statue
of an Indian In warlike costume. The Indian
was watching for something and 80 natural
| was the expression of anticipation on MS lace
that 1t seemed he only needed to breathe to
| be a typical savage, and draw government
ratiOns, and have an agent. .
This room is where animals, birds, and
statues that adorn the halls below are made,
and an immense amount of work is accom-
| plishcd here.
The museum itself attracts great numbers Of
| people and strangers almost invariably begin
their inspection of the city. there Almost
| every conceivable savage and obscure mode OF
| life Is represented, and In the cases and ON the
| shelves many more wonders rest
| The old gentleman with the white haxen
beard who sits at the main door aud secures
canes and such weapons thinks that person
| can see the museum In about two weeks, put
| to dash hurriedly through In q day leaves but
an Indifferent impression of the worth OF the
| museum. Some people, the old gentleman
| thinks. do not know what the museum IS
| They come here" remarked he, "look about,
and are surprised to find that we have stuffed
animals and vases and statues and the ike
| and when they go away they begins to think
| that the museum is great place" ..
| Upon entering the door and looking through
the building, one is confused by the sight Of
Eskimos in mrs, bronze statues, cases OF
| iiihiNlhioi nlttl iDphiHb vi
events, stuffed specimens of birds and ami.
mails the plash of water from the fountain In
the center Of the building. There. are cases
devoted to literary relics such as letters written
| by Washington, and other celebrities, records
of patents granted, certificates of incorpora-
| tion, and the like. Stolid figures Of Eskimos
look forever into space from the center Of
BY implements of occupation. In,
dians frown from beneath long
feathers with articles used In. their primitive
life about them. Japanese designs pf afohi:
| lecture In many forms are eorhred 10 half
| a dozen cases. Every variety OF animal life Is
represented, while al almost every turn ONE ID
| confronted with maps In relief in huge cases,
| different varieties of building stone, rugs spe,
cimens of wood meteors and the like ranged
around the wall Almost all Of the west side
of the building is devoted 70 mineral speci,
mems, and works IN clay relief find places IN
every variety of vegetable products Il seen, is
complete and interesting, and IL is here that
rural visitors marvel at The size Of some Of the
| snnnimnns