Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-03-13

~~~~~~
and Historians.
Strewn along for distance of 90
yards in the rear of the Smithsonian in
stitution are blocks Of plaster Of paris of
every imaginable shape, some of large
rixe and others fitted together as if TO
form boxes. For the most part they look
like the refuse Of workshop. Here and
there one fragment CT another is seen TO
resemble part OF a fish OF other ami
NAL, perhaps a tail, OF head with a
pair Of fore fiippers. A big slab bears the
impression Of a snake, as if the creature.
having buried itself in mud for the win
ter, had walked from its torpid state and
crawled away. Other objects yet more
strange are faces and various parts or
human bodies apparently fossilized.
These odd looking things are molds.
The Smithsonian institution has been
collecting them for 30 years past, and
some Of them have cost great deal of
money. Quite number have been fetch
ed all the way from Alaska, represent
ing various animals peculiar to the re-
gions Of the frozen north. If queer rep
tile or fish is found anywhere, there is
nothing better than to make cast of it
in plaster of paris By this means its
shape is copied to perfection, and that Is
great help for museum purposes.
When, few years ago. whale was
stranded on the New England coast, DR..
Palmer, taxidermist of the Smithsonian
institution, was sent to make copy Of
it in papier mache. This he did-that
is TO say, he made mold Of tho cetacean
in plaster, of which he took several bar
rels full with him, and the papier
mache cast was produced afterward in
Washington.
Only one-half Of the whale was cast,
however, representing what might be
termed the port side of the animal.
This is now hung up in the National
museum. On one side it shows the out
side of the creature and from tho other
side the inside 1t was clergyman
who on a certain occasion not long ago
was steering some members of his flock
through the building, and, pausing in
front of the whale, remarked, pointing
to the capacious interior of the great
marine mammal:
"You see my dear friends, that there
was plenty of room for Jonahp'
In such ways the Smithsonian insti-
tuition has collected molds and made
casts Of great variety of animals, Of
ten sending long distances to get them.
OF reptiles alone it has secured several
hundreds, each representing typical
species, while the fishes run up to 1900
and upward. From each plaster mold
about 80 casts may be made, if de-
sired. This facility of multiplication
is utilized to considerable extent in
another branch of the work not re-
lating to animals at all. To schools and
to museums all over the world the
Smithsonian institution sends sets of
typical aboriginal implements of Amer
lea. These are valuable for purposes Of
study. A mold from an actual stone AK
will furnish so facsimiles, which only
have to be painted in order to look ex-
actly like the original. If more are
wanted, another mold is easily made.
While it would not be easy to ship
whale or walrus to the Smithsonian
institution, smaller animals are readily
transported. Nearly all of the creatures
of which these molds are made are sent
to this city for that purpose. When
practicable, two living specimens are
forwarded. One serves for the mold
The other is model for the artist. Be-
fore going further it should DO ex-
planned that the casts are intended to
represent the animals themselves in the
museum, and they must be as lifelike
as possible. They are painted by men
who are skilled in this branch of art.
Before making mold from a snake
the animal, If alive, receives dose of
chloroform. 1t may or may not recover
There have been instances where SER
penis have got over the effects of the
chloroform two or three times in success
sion, only to be subjected to further
doses and made to serve again and
again. Perhaps an an@sthetized ophid-
ian will be coiled gracefully about tho
branch of a tree. and the mold will be
taken from branch and snake together,
to be subsequently painted, of course.
Or, If it were a rattlesnake, it would
probably be coiled in spiral, as if ready
to strike. In the west wing of the
Smithsonian institution is beautiful
exhibit of the rattlesnakes of the United
States. They look as if alive, though
only casts, so well are they painted.
with surroundings of heritage, ETC.. to
counterfeit nature.
1t is the same way with reptiles of
other kinds. There are ever SO many
queer species of lizards in this country,
in the western deserts. The
horned toad is one Of these, not being in
reality toad at all, though it looks
like one There are the edible lizards
of Death valley and others which are
able to outrun the fastest race horse.
Such creatures as these are easily mold
ed, every scale in their armor being re-
produced with wonderful accuracy Of
detail With land mammals il is differ
ent. for cast Of = creature with fur
coat can hardly be made 90 look like
life Nevertheless DR.. Palmer's coliec-
ton includes casts Of portions q many
land mammals. For example. hanging
en- the vail 81 Bis stnslio ia lha rear q
the Sni1hs1niAn lnsfifuffon i : plaster
head az q tapiE taken airort from tho
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. fHRIr. Sc viii naf - oblieed 20 0aess
a. to mEssasl 1.saI4 al lkat r4rt - 1ha
|MsE Geese ~ = eass from fhe head
- > A4 Na4 14af w4s Az.I0a Ia lbs p
et kHF east IS frn tn fms.ua
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