The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-11

dations. In this connection the thought
suggests itself that a spacious and health
full structure, suitable for the accommo-
dation of college students and school chill
dren, located in the vicinity of the mu-
scum might do prosperously well as
resort for visiting scholars and their pre-
ceptors.
EARLY TROUBLES OF THE INSTITUTION.
And yet with all these advantages
with all its reputation-the great help
mate 1t is to science, and the vast practi-
cal good 1t is dong for the old and young
through what narrow escapes this great
tutelar of science has passed-how easily
it might have died before it was born
how bitterly it was antagonized in it's in
ception by even some of the most distin-
guished men in our congress!
Mr.. James Smithson, of England, left
as may be remembered, e120 600 to a
nephew for life upon condition that "if he
shall die without ISSUE then | give my
entire estate TO the United States, to
found in the city of Washington an estab-
lishment, to be called the Smithsonian
Institution, for the increase and diffusion
OF knowledge among men" After the
death OF the nephew without marriage,
and considerable difficulty, the will was
sustained and the United States was &C
corded undisputed right to the fortune,
which now bore the royal crest of Great
Baitain as if to sanction the individual
act of one of her departed subjects.
But then another danger arose, and that
the legacy of $500, 900 was not in the deep
bosom of the ocean buried was due to no
foresight on the part of Mr.. Richard
Rush, who had been sent to England by
our government to look after the matter.
With over-zealous care he refused to pay
the exchange, which at that time was
excessively in favor Of the English, and,
converting the Smithson securities into
English gold, he packed it into boxes and
shipped it uninsured on a small sailing
vessel bound for America. People held
their breath until the gold reached our
shores; had it been lost they might have
held Mr. Rush's.
Then new troublesome danger arose.
With the money in our treasury vaults,
garrulous opposition asserted itself
against applying the money. One great
senatorial statesman declared that the
United States government could not lower
its dignity by becoming the beneficiary
of any defunct Englishman and others
followed in the wake OF opposition. But
the scheme was not without its friends
and advocates, foremost among whom
were John Quincy Adams and Mr..
Preston, who, about the twelfth year
of congressional antogonism, finally
shaped into law the establishment of the
Smitherson Institution at Washington.
Hardly had the law passed. however,
when it was discovered that the money
had been loaned somehow or other to
western states and lost in wildcat bank
ventures. But the government was, of
course, responsible, and made good the
principal amount and interest, aggregat-
ing then for the institution a capital
stock Of little over three-quarters of
million.
If that amount be considered large for
the establishment OF an institution of
learning, it should be borne in mind that
small colleges in the United States of only
100 pupils have had richer endowments,
and Harvard University could not survive
years struggle on the dividends that
accrue 10 the Smithsonian. In the Metro
politan Museum, in New York, for exam
pie, one contributor alone has deposited
$500, 900 worth Of specimens Of Jade alone,
but, OF course. that does not enter into
the question materially.
The Smithsonian values varieties and
not quantities of specimens. Already
there are moro specimens than can be
shown In the next twenty years, unless
wise congress viii wisely make necessary
appropriations for much needed addi-
tional space and increased help. The ia