Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-27

TIE LArIN-AMInlcAN RACES AND TEEN HISTORY
-DIyTgRESr PERIODS TO M REPRESENTED
IRON TIE TIME OF COLUMBUS TO THE PRESENT
-xoDxIs Axp COLLECTIONS PROPOSED.
Although the worlds fair will be a. truly
international In its character - possible, yet
| the proportion Of American exhibits will be
Overwhelmingly large, the probabilities being
| that Europe and Asia will have less to show for
| their centuries Of existence than the United
| States alone will display a. evidence Of the
soundness Of lite title to greatness OF special
| importance at this this time-and the interest
| will not be lsssened by time-are the
| republics which stretch southwark from
the land Of the stars and stripes down to the
| farthest limits Of the Argentine The vast
stores Of eye-opening matsrial-nos all liquid
in this immense and heretofore but little
known stretch Ut territory have recently be-
come slightly apparent, so when the national
board Of commissioners committee on organi-
cation, plan and scope Of the worlds fair ap-
preached the subject of Central and South
American exhibits they came to the conclusion
| that 10 would be good thing to secure tho
opinion OF some one who was familiar with the
subject Thefeupon they requested Mr.. Will
lam Z. Curtis Of this city to submit plan for a
Latin-American exhibit This Mr.. Curtis did and
| a. tine suggestions have been adopted by the
commission they have been made public. The
fact that much Of tho museum material col
lected will ultimately find a resting place in
this city will not detract from local interest
in come Of the propositions advanced by Mr..
Curtis.
"The success Of all such undertake as the
approaching exposition" says Mr.. Curtis, de
ponds largely upon the completeness of organi-
| cation and the classification OF exhibits They
| should be collected in systematic and method
ical manner, with view to historical sequence
chronological relations and geographical asso-
citation, aud their classification and installation
should follow u similar rulc.
There should be Q distinct and separate de-
| partment devoted to Spanish and Portuguese
| America, and within it should be represented
| as accurately and AZ completely as possible, by
chronological periods aud geographical divis-
ions, the Development of civilization from the
time of the discovery to the present day.
would beg leave to suggest the following plan:
PERIOD OF THE DISCOVERY.
"First A model Of the house at Genoa in
which Columbus was born, with collection Of
portraits of himself, his family and as many as
possible Of the men who were associated with
him and his discoveries both his patrons and
companions
second. An illustration Of the court of
Ferdinand and Isabella, with life-sized figures,
properly costumed; portraits and facsimiles of
state papers relating to the first voyage and
subsequent events in the life Of the great dis
covercr.
Third. Apcrfectreproduction Of the caravel
in which Columbus sailed, manned by sailors
IN the Costume OF the time, to be moored in or
near the grounds Of the exposition; tho caravel
to be equipped as nearly as possible as it was
| during the voyage, with originals or fac
smiles Of the compasses and other nautical in
struments used by navigators Of that age, maps
| OF the world rs then known, together with the
| actual charts used by Columbus, il those can
be obtained and if not accurate reproductions
Fourth. model III relief OF the West India
Islands and the north coast Of South America
showing the routes OF the several voyages made
by Columbus and the other early discoveries,
with historical illustrations, models relics &c ,
Of Americus vespucci, Alonza Ojeda, Nunez de
Balboa and others.
Fifth. Life-sized models Of the natives OF
| America at the time OF the discovery. with a
collection Of objects showing their costumes,
habits, customs and manner OF life
Sixth. The last days of Columbus, illustrated
| with models. portraits, a collection of the
originals OF his papers, fac SMILES of his last
will and testament, exhibits illustrating the
circumstances of his death and burial, models
| OF his coffin and tomb aud the numerous mon
uments erected to his memory in various parts
| Of the world.
"There are number Of priceless relics Of
Columbus In existence, including twenty mine
| original letters written by his hand. and by
proper negotiations many OF them may be
obtained for the exposition; but it would be
necessary to offer satisfactory guarantees for
| their safe keeping and return, and they would
| not only have to ROMAN in the custody Of per-
sons designated by their owners, under such
| guard az they would require, but q hre-proof
building or apartment would have to be pro-
yided for them.
Il submit that those relics would constitute
| one OF the greatest attractions that could be
offered. and especial efforts should be made to
| secure them.
| PERIOD OF THE CONQUEST.
l EfpuA M 4
models Of the ships in which he sailed, the
equipment OF his men, costumed figures show
| ing their arms and armor, nautical instru.
uents, maps aud charts showing the ADVANCE.
ment in geographical knowledge.
Second. Models OF the temples and palaces
Of Montezuma, illustrations OF the religion,
customs and social condition Of the Aztecs;
their arts and industries, methods of agricul-
ture, mode Of life. military and political organ
ization. with costumed figures.
Third. A similar illustration Of the civiliza-
ton OF the Incas in Peru, with models of their
palaces and temples; religious emblems; cos
TUNED figures showing their apparel; imple-
| ments OF household use, agriculture, war and
mechanical industry; with figures showing the
| arms, armor and weapons Of Pizarro and his
men; the banner Of Pizarro, embroidered by
Queen Isabella, now in the city hall at Caracas,
Fourth. The prehistoric civilization in Yu-
| catan and Central America, illustrated by
models and relics from the ruins of the Tolteo
| Cities Of which SO little is known
Very valuable aud extensive collections IL
Illustrative Of the period Of the conquest can be
easily obtained in Mexico, Peru and Nicaragua,
both from public museums and private col
lectors, with proper guarantees from the GOV
ernment Of their safe custody and return.
| TEE COLONIAL PERIOD.
| First Collections showing the developmen
Of the southern continents from the time of the
conquest to the epoch Of the revolution, giving
| by object lessons q continuous history OF the
Central and South American republics and
their progress in civilization, with portraits OF
| their eminent men and examples OF the arts and
industries OF the colonial period.
| Second. The epoch Of tho revolution. illus
trated by portraits, historical pictures and
papers, the originals or fac-smi!es of the decla-
ratiOns Of independence of the several repub-
lies, the weapons and military equipments of
the time, relics Of Bolivar and other great lead
ers and other collections tracing the history OF
| the struggle that resulted in the separation OF
tho colonies from the crown OF SPAIN
Third. The development Of the empire of
Brazil during the same period to the time Of
Dom Pedro IL
'.rhe museums Of South America are rich in
treasures OF the colonial period and very COM
plete and Interesting collections can be OBJ
| tsined
TEE PKlfOD or THE PHgsGNr
"The examples illustrating the period Of the
Il Az - H.