Evening star., 1886-11-04
PERMANENT EXPOSITION.
The American Native Races.

AN EXHIBIT OF THEIR ANTIQUITIES, HISTORY
AND CHARACTERISTICS.
The celebration of the 4OOth anniversary OF
the discovery of America without complete
representation of the native races of the three
Americas, including the Aztecs of Mexico, the
Incas OF Peru, the different semi-civiIized and
wild tribes OF the United States, &C., would be
like the play of Hamlet without Hamlet.
In view of the Importance of this subject, and
the necessity OF ample time tor preparation,
the following correspondence between the eX-
position board and the bureau of ethnology
will be of general interest:
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,
BUREAU OF ErHNOLOGY,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Nov. Sd, 1856.
Mr.. alexander d. anderson, Secretary Board O,
Promotion, &C.;
Sir:-I have the honor to acknowledge the re-
celpt OF your letter in relation to IAN exhibit OF
the American native races, their characters
Tics, industries, &C., at the proposed Worlds
exposition at Washington in 1892, and at the
permanent Exposition of the three Americas
which 1t Is expected will be the result of said
worlds Exposition and in reply thereto
have the honor to make the following sug-
1; Within the territory of the United States,
incluulng Alaska, there are more than sixty
tinet languages, and to a large extent having
dl1erent habits, customs aud arts. Selections
can De MADE from among these stocks OF the
"
twenty groups would finely illustrate the CHIEF
characteristics and the most interesting facts
relating 70 the North American tribes.
z. Each group Of persons should be assembled
IN a little village. SO arranged as properly to
Illustrate Indian liie. For example, their lodges
should be characteristic-i. e., they should as
far as possible be the same as those used in
their prlmevai homes, and be equipped with
appropriate domestic furniture. The collec-
ions mace ior this purpose would be of en-
during value in the permanent exhibition, and
would make the temporary exhibition realistic
ana PROFOUNDLY interesting, alike to the casual
observer and the more careful student OF an
thrOpOiogy.
B. Among the tribes selected should be Eski-
mos, with their summer iglOo wellings: Hadas
with their puncheOn houses and totem posts;
w ihtuns or Mandans, with their earth lodges:
Znnis, In stone pueblo, ETC.; and the In
aians should have with them ponies, dogs, Gagged
eagles, Gagged turkeys. etc.
IL is not my purpose to elaborate such a plan,
but simply togire few hints in relation thereto,
Tor the purpose OF more clearly setting forth the
interest which would attach to such an exhi-
billion. To the greater number of people of the
Uhlted States The Indian is but an historical
tradition. The few scattered Indians seen in
civilization no longer illustrat te primitive traits
an,ss ha ana eustomsmtne :; Indian in his primevai
hioition, though difficult: but in a few years
more it will be Impossible.
The territory Oh the United States embraces
about three and q hall million 50 lare miles
w hen first discovered by Europeans IL was
the home OF several hundred thousand savages,
VINO were almost lost in au area SO vast, and
"hoSS pocoCSoiOu VI tuc cOuutTS was not Uy Wiz.
tue of utiiization, but by more or less success
fui competition with wild beasts for the natural
products of forests, prairies, rivers and lakes,
though here and there small patches of ground
We're cultivated. AT an exhibition designed to
illustrate and signalize the progress which civil
1zatlon has made from that time to the present
IL would be appropriate and instructive to ex-
empliiy as lar as possible the condition of the
country and Of the indigenous people as found
at the time When modern civilization first be-
gan the redemption OF the new world by organ
lied and enlightened industry. That such a iea-
tuie would be attractive am fully persuaded
ana, II incorporated in your general plan, uiLi-
mate SUCCESS would be more surely attained
am, with great respect, your obedienL ser.
want, j, w, POWELL. Director