Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-09
READY FOR ATLANTA
The Extensive Exhibit of the Smith
sonian Institution.
WHAT PROFESSOR GOODE SAYS OF IT
One Of the Most Interesting Fea
lures Of tho Display.
OR I,GIN OF g A M E s

The Smithsonian Institution has its ex-
hibit for the Atlanta exposition ready to
ship south. This is perhaps the most care
fully prepared exhibit that has ever been
sent from the institution.
The scientists who preside over the
Smithsonian Institution are not at all
averse to sending their precious stock of
natural specimens and historical curios to
be exhibited in other parts of the country.
1--WE have been sending our exhibits to
expositions for twenty years." said Prof.
Goode to Star reporter today, land in
that time have never lost single article
or had an article injured. A man who
should pack an exhibit so that it could be
| injured in transportation would consider
himself disgraced. We have taken great
pains in studying the best methods for
packing our exhibits, so that we are not
concerned about their safe arrival. I re-
member in 1876 when we sent our exhibits
we thought we had lost one article. A
thorough search was made for 1t, but it
could not be found until the packing boxes
were again used to return the goods here.
Then 1t was discovered that the lost article
had not been unpacked
The only unpleasant feature of prepar-
ing exhibits for expositions is that 1t takes
to that extent prevents US from pursuing
our regular work. But it is a very desir-
able means of getting our exhibit before
the public: and 1t is in line with the inten-
tons of Mr.. Smithson, the founder Of the
institution. who willed all his property to
found an Institution In this city for the
increase and dissemination of knowledge
among men,
Purpose of the Exhibit.
The purpose of the exhibit of the Smith
| sonian Institution at Atlanta is to convey
to the minds of the visitors an impression
similar to that which they would receive IL
they visited the Smithsonian buildings In
this city. The space assigned to the Smith.
sonian Institution is in the government
building. and includes $500 feet Of floor
space The collections are grouped on
either side OF broad passageway $50 feet
In length arranged in alcoves twenty feet
In width and from twelve to twenty feet in
depth.
On the right Of the main entrance are a
| large picture Of the Smithsonian building,
plete set of the publications of the institu-
ton. about two hundred volumes; also
photographs of apparatus and illustrations
Of the work in the astrophysical observa-
tory and photographs Of the National Zoo
logical Park. A map. twenty feet by ten.
shows the geographical distribution of the
correspondents of the institution, twenty.
four thousand in number. as entered on the
also one Of the fifty sets of government
documents which are sent annually abroad
by the bureau.
The work of the institution. and it's re-
lationships are fully explained in the pam
phlet which has been published for dis-
tribution at the exposition.
An Interesting Feature.
One of the most interesting features Of
the collection is a special collection illus
trating 1.-The origin and significance Of
games in all parts Of the world" This col
lection gives especial prominence to chess
and cards, and was arranged by Mr.. Stuart
Culin. director of the museum of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania.
The objects, arranged in a progressive
series. fill thirty-four upright cases. like
pictures in frames. and one large table case.
They form almost complete history of
cards and chess, commencing with the
primitive forms, originally used for divina-
ton, down to the games OF the present day.
Especial interest attaches to the fact that
the clue to the origin Of both chess and
cards was found by Mr. Culin, with the aid
given by Mr.. Gushing. among the aboriginal
people of America The pack Of cards is
shown to have originally consisted OF a
bundle Of arrows. marked with the signs
of the world quarters. The statements, or
feathered part of these arrows. bearing cos
mcal marks, were first used in fortune tell
ing. and from their use our card games
arose.
In America the Indians did not get be-
yond the use of carved and painted slaves.
The American case shows the arrows OF the
McCloud River Indians Of California, mark
ed with colored ribbons. by which they were
distinguished Side by side with them are
the gambling sticks of the Haidas of Van
couvers Island, similarly marked with rings
of color and used like cards In their gam
| bling even at the present day.
Gambling In Eastern Asia.
In the adjoining case, devoted to eastern
Asia, the practice arrows of Corca are
shown, and with them the derived playing
cards here made of oiled paper, yet bear
ing, both on their backs and faces, devices
copied from the cut feathers of the arrows
| With them ara Chinese cards with the
same embems surviving as markers or
indexes at the ends. These cards are
double-heade 8, as indeed were the gam
bling sticks, carrying back the idea of our
common playing cards with double heads
and index marks to the most remote an
tiquity. The japanese cards in the same
case bear emblems derived in part from
the same source while the circular cards,
called gunify, of which a beautiful pack is
shown, are painted in colors to correspond
with the world quarters. single pack of
the national cards of each of the principal
countries in the world follow, comprising
in Europe, Germany. France, Spain. Italy.
Switzerland, Austria, Sweden. England and
Russia. The card series closes with the
pack with pictures of the Chicago EXPOSE
ton and the cards with pictures of the con-
federate flag. made in England for sale in
the south during the war.
The Chess Series.
The chess series begins like that of cards
with the divinatory games of primitive
people, in which our game originated.
America Is here again conspicuous, and
with the objects representing the first
steps in the evolution of the game are
shown other common things, such as visit
ing cards and the folding fan, which Mr..
Culin traces, with chess, to the marked
arrow of primitive culture. The historical
chess series comprises boards and men
from India, Burmah. the Malay peninsula,
the Maldive islands. Corea, China and
japan.
Bicyclists Run Into.
Louis Doyle of LIE Droit Park while rid
ing on his wheel this morning on the way
to his desk in the Chesapeake and Ohio