Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-27

HBH tOrtcal cur1oS ana
!:
AG IN scientific specimens
sl1H iii WFk that have been on
-4xiF IVAN III exhibition in the Ma
Il E2YIlBA " tional Museum for
Tll HHHlE the past two or three
years are likely soon
to lose their last
chance OF seeing
them. Thirty carloads of new and rare
specimens have recently arrived from Chi
cago, and 1t Is the intention Of the Smith
sonian authorities to reconstruct in our
midst miniature worlds exposition of
valuable exhibits. To do this, much, IL not
all, of the floor space of the museum
building must be utilized. The fact IL not
generally known. perhaps, that the COL
lection in the Museum has so far outgrown
the proportions of the building as to make
it possible to exhibit at a time only one
tenth fsthe specimens. Hence many Of
the articles that have been exposed to the
public for three years past must soon be
stored and packed away, possibly not to
be seen again by this generation, IL the
other articles not yet exhibited are to be
brought out from their hiding places.
The Work of Change Begun.
Already the work of change has begun.
and even now the huge white model statue
of the Capitol dome queen that has SO long
stood in majestic grace in q spacious realm
of her own Is almost hidden from sight by
boxes and cases of new material. Grim-look-
ing aborigines in their glass cases seem to
wear looks of restless anxiety while waiting
to be settled in the new order OF arrange
ment, and ere long birds reptiles and animals
belonging to extinct ages will crowd out
the oddities that have for some time past
held the public attention. But the new
collection will comprise something more
than birds. reptiles and animals. The
Smithsonian people expended over 100000
to set in place it's splendid exhibit at Chi
cago. Much of 1t was constructed here,
but 1t is all new, and. together with what
was originated at the fair, will become
one of the newest and most interesting at
fractions among Washington sights. Added
to what the government exhibited at Chi
cago will be the numerous rare exhibits
donated by foreign nations and private in
dividuals At first it was thought that
Washington would receive very few such
donations. but happily 1t resulted other
wise. 1t may be remembered that in defer
ence to the protests of Chicagoans, orders
were issued to federal representatives
neither to suggest nor solicit donations at
the worlds fair, and for awhile 1t look ed
as though Chicago would have a monopoly
of all that was to be left In this country.
But it appears that Chicago enterprise
was too enterprislng and importuna.e, Tor
In the end the United States without even
the asking. was gratutously presented
with many of the finest and rarest exhibits.
which. despite local opportunities, foreign
governments and private individuals pre-
ferred to deposit in the National Museum
at Washington. The articles are now be-
ing catalogued and unpacked, but 1t will
require two or three months at least to
place and arrange them for the public eye.
Development of Scientific Knowledge.
There is something about the Smithsonian
Institution, however, which the average
eye. public or private, does not see. 1t is
the quiet steady work in development of
scientific knowledge which finds no paral-
lei anywhere else on the globe. OF the half
million persons who last year visited the
museum and institution few perhaps COM
pretended the immense scope of the es-
tablishment Of science for which we have
dead Englishman to thank. None per-
haps realize that the quaint red-stono
structure of medieval pattern, and its red
brick satellite of modern simplicity, formed
an institution without peer the world over.
Indeed, the average sightseer could not be
expected to know that the managers of the
Institution were meeting in the fullest way
possible. and more fully, perhaps, than
James Smithson ever dreamed of, the con-
dition imposed in the bequest namely, ito
increase and diffuse knowledge among
men," Everywhere throughout the world
may be found its twenty-four thousand ac-
tive agents and correspondents vigilantly
searching and watching for new develop
ments in science, while at the same time
zealously noting older effects. 1t keeps full
pace with every scientific research and dis
covery. 1t records everything tending to
increase scientific knowledge and maintains
sort of distant acquaintance between
learned scientists and philosophers through
out the entire world, keeping them con-
stantly in touch with each others work.
1t does in this regard more than any other
agency because there is none other like 1t.
To use the language of one of it's man.
ayers, 1t is the central office of a great in
ternational telephone, whose keyboard con-
meets with the deepest thoughts of the two
hemispheres.
What would be the effect If the Smith
sonian Institution were destroyed or abol-
ished today?" was asked of one of its
learned professors and he replied:
why to the world of science 1t would be
just as fatal as If every telegraph line were
at once cut and every mail route impeded."
One Real Center Of Science.
The professor went on to say that to
comprehend the Importance of the work of
the one real center of science in the world.
And by center of science he intended to
convey the literal meaning of the words
In other parts of the world, he said, there
were larger and richer scientific institu-
lions. but their purposes and scope were
restricted to individual progress. For ex-
ample, while new theories might be origin
ated and new discoveries made in those
institutions, 1t was the province of the
Smithsonian to increase knowledge by diff
fusing 1t throughout the world Not only
this, but more. 1t helped and guided scien-
lists everywhere, both in research and dis
covery. To illustrate, the professor said
Now, for example, supposing some scien-
fist in distant part OF the world, or any,
where, in fact, wanted to know the latest
development in any particular matter; he
has only to write to the Smithsonian for
information, and he is furnished without
delay with pamphlets bearing directly on
the subject. So perfect is our system that
man need only send at the expense of Iocal
postage his inquiry or request to any one
OF our local agents in the country he is in
Our agent at once sends 1T here and tho
information is furnished to the INQUIRER
without even the expense of postage Sew
eral of the foreign governments among
whom France is in the lead, co-opera te
with us in the distribution of scientific in
formation by free delivery of printed mat
ter through the mails. To show the SYM
pathy our work awakens, the fact NAV he
mentioned that every one of the steamship
companies carry our matter free of charge
n 10 al~x,a de and