The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1894-09-21
CORRESPONDENCE.
Alcohol for the Bishop Museum

be some lack of apprehension as to
the need the Bishop Museum has
in common with all museums, of
large supplies of alcohol, it may be
well to explain publicly what that
these needs are. In the first place the
alcoholic specimens belonging to
the Government were in many
cases insecurity bottled and the
original alcohol has evaporated if
these specimens are to be saved the
alcohol must be replaced-say ten
gallons. Next the very valuable
collection of specimens given by
the L. S. S. Albatross will require
thirty gallons before it can be pro-
perly exhibited. Then the Aus
tralian Museum has furnished in
exchange a very fine collection of
serpents, lizards, fishes, chambered
nautilus, etc. These will perhaps
require one hundred gallons and
they must remain soldered in the
tin case in which they came until
alcohol can be procured. Next it
is proposed to exhibit all the fish,
crabs, sea-urchins, etc. OF these
islands, which will require several
hundred gallons.
Now in a cold climate methy-
lated spirit, and various other sub
stitutes for pure alcohol can be
used here it is out of the question
to consider anything but pure and
strong alcohol,-no known sub
stance can take its place in this
tropical climate.
The question is not whether the
Trustees will pay the extravagant
sum of SO per gallon for material
for the preservation and exhibition
of their collections, even the British
Museum which is probably the
richest in the world, could not do
that. if alcohol cannot be had as in
all other countries free of tax for
museum purposes, the material on
hand cannot be exhibited, and of
course no new material will be
collected. 1t will certainly save
the curator a great deal of trouble
not to have to prepare and exhibit
the many choice things at hand,
and if the public does not care to
see or let visitors see what they at
least are interested in, then their
servants the Government are justi-
fed in leaving things as they are.
1t is difficult to believe, however,
that the evident Government oppo-
sition to the museum arises from
anything but misrepresentation. The
Bishop Museum, although only a
few years old, has already taken a
place among the museums of the
world. and in its narrow field is
probably unsurpassed. Its means
are, however, very limited, and it
cannot do all that would be desir-
able. In the Colonies, where mu-
seums are directly fostered by a
wise government, one of the extent
of the Bishop Museum would have
a corps of at least four scientific
specialists, but here we can afford
no assistants.
The governments ofmodern civil
lied nations recognize universally
the great education al advantages Of
a good museum. Even Egypt has
her wonderful Boulak Museum, for
which she is now building a new
home at cost of $4,000. The
Argentine Republic in her poverty
has museum any country might
be proud of, and its publications
are of great value. l do not recall
any European government that has
not some creditable museum. Here
the Government had little mu-
scum, but after neglecting it until
it was almost valueless, it gave up
the struggle, and the Bishop Mu-
scum undertook the care and exhi-
bition of the remains, thus saving
the Government some $4,000 per an
num,-probably more if the rental
of the rooms in the Judiciary Build
ing be considered. In return what |
does the Government give? When |
asked to do what every known |
government seems glad TO do
admit everything for a public mu
scum (which properly conducted is
a public university free of all du
ties or taxes, the Hawaiian Repub !
lie hesitates /! Certainly a most |
ungracious position which will |
hardly tend to raise itin the estim
alton of those older nations, before
whom it is still on trial.
VIM. T. BRIGHAM.