Birmingham age-herald., 1895-09-24

OOh BUilDlNo
 graphical, historical and geological, polit- ioal religious and educational, military, financial and aboriginal. The pictorial gallery begins with the finest obtainable portraits of the presidents from big boned and muscular George to fat Grover, of the secretaries of state of those, of the treasury from the intellectual but ruddy looking Hamilton to the pale but equally intellec- tual Carlisle, and in like manner the apos- tolio succession in other departments Along with these is displayed in most at tractive style what is said to be complete series of every postage stamp, bond and bill serving as money ever issued by our government. It would take more of an ex- pert than I to decide as to the truth of the olaim, for there are many there that never even heard of.
 In the educational line specimen schools from all parts of the country arc shown in immense views which fold one upon the other so that each fills wall space foot or so deep. Here one may trace the sys- tems of different states from primary to university and of Indian education from the papoose strapped on the fiat board or wicker frame to tho tolerably cultivated native American as he issues from Carlisle or Hampton. This, however, is but the smallest part of the aboriginal exhibit, for in one respect it seems to me this depart ment excels the similar one at Chicago. This is in the line of original Indian work. From Alaska the agents have sent a most interesting series of native draw ings in which Eskimo and Innuit, Russian native and half breed picture all the de- tails of their common life. The seal the bo fov nd bn ed in every condition and attitude observed by the natives, and the latter's nature comes out strong in the details for all the hunting and fighting scenes arc full of animation, while others are rather dull. It is said that the natives of Alaska show quite an aptitude for art, and as these drawings arc on cardboard of a size fur nished by the agents much ingenuity is shown in working in all that the native artist wanted to express. It Is really quite curious to note the fidelity of detail, despite the fact that there is no perspective, and how ingeniously the savage draftsman has got around that difficulty though the general result Is often ludicrous. Along with these there is an assortment of num- mics, wax limitations and other stuffed aborigines, but l am like Huck Finn in that don't take no stock in dead peo- ple"-that is, if they will be kind enough to stay dead and not come about where am of nights.
 Military Progress.
 The military display is that of the Chi cago Worlds fair reproduced on n smaller scale. There are the same wax soldiers in ell the uniforms of tho service, the same old guns from tho one like that which h,,et down to the brcechloader shoot seven times ina minute which has made such charges as Pickett's at Gettysburg and the Federals at Cold Harbor impossible in future warfare, the rusty yangors from the Wolfe and Montoalm fight and the clumsy muskets which the militia flying from Bladensbtirg threw into the creek as they crossed the bridge. In no other branch of progress Is the truth more forcibly illus trated that with every step of advance the gap between the higher and lower races of mankind is greatly widened. It was not thought remarkable 5000 years ago that an equal number of Gauls or Geteslians could givea Roman legion a very pretty fight for an hour or two, but now a well drilled and properly armed infantry regi- ment could scatter 10 900 barbarians like chaff before the wind. In short, we have reached the point where only in the dead Hest climates and denscst jungles can un- civilized man hold his own even for a sea- son.
 The fish exhibit Is of course much small CT than that at Chicago, but is far more conveniently arranged. The. naval, for estry and Smithsonian exhibits arc also i'll the same line, but in agriculture the display is quite novel and typically south ern. Here, for instance, is cotton plant, apparently, which at first view seems but the attempt of an amateur in waxwork, It is really the production of one of the best artists in that line and cost the gov ernmept pretty penny. Right by it is another on which the cotton worm has be- gun to get in his work, and by that a sec- tionnl diagram of the boil, showing tho damage done. Here also is horse with the glanders, near by hon with some fla tal disease and on the glass by her the Uhito throat wn-p, whinh h------.- .-- -~