Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-04
THE OMAHA EXHIBIT:
It is Now Being Prepared at the Ma
tional Museum.
fHE PLAN OF CURATOR HOLMES
VIII Show the Development Of the
Human Mind.
SOME PROPOSED FEATURES


Under the direction of Prof. w. H.
Holmes. head curator of the department of
anthropology. National Museum, the work
of pushing forward the exhibit of the
museum which will be seen at the trans
Mississippi exposition, to be held in Omaha
June to November of the present year
Is being carried on at present. An office
has been set aside at the museum for this
particular purpose. 1t is proposed that the
cxhibSts will be one of the best IL not the
best, which will represent the government
II stitutions at any affair Of the kind.
The plans for the displays are being care
fully perfected, AMI it is hoped that at the
END of two months time everything will be
ready to set up in the government building
at Omaha. Prof. Holmes is giving the mat
ter his personal supervision, and Prof. Otis
T. Mason. curator of the division of ethnol-
ogy. is bending his efforts toward making
the government show a success in every
particular.
The appropriation for the government ex-
hibit is 100000, Of which the sum of SEQ 600
Will be devoted to the construction of the
building itself. including a life-saving sta
ton. to cost $500. This latter is expected
to prove one of the most attractive features
OF the whole exhibit.
Allotment by Departments.
The allotment by departments is as fol-
lows. State. $4,125; Treasury. SIS 5Ss. 90;
War, about $4,000; Navy, about $1,000;
Post Office, about $1,000; Interior, $4,000:
Justice, 81, $50; Agriculture, s13, $50; Smith
sonian, about $4,000; fish commission, about
$4,000; common fund, $4,000. Out of the
latter will be paid the salaries of clerks
and those connected with the exhibit and
other incidental expenses.
The system by which the selection and
arrangement Ct the objects to be exhibited
Is carried on at the National Museum is
complete one. A wide table is built for the
purpose, and on this are laid the articles
In any enc series to be shown, their re-
spective positions being marked as they Law
on the table with chalk. These spaces are
numbered with the corresponding numbers
attached to each separate object, and notes
made of this. A convenient space on the
floor is selected in lieu Of the table and the
same operation repeated.
A space at the north side of the building
has been partitiOned of, where this work
Is completed, and it is here that Profs.
Holmes and Mason, with their assistants
pursue their labors in this connection.
Development of the Human Mind.
Prof. Holmes idea in regard to the ex-
hibit is to show the development of the hui
man mind, as regards arts, industries, etc.
and how progress has been made in the
be synoptcal displays of some forty or
more of these lines, beginning with the
earliest applications of mankind to what
ever class it applies and its evolution to
the present time. The domestic arts will
be fully represented by everything sur
rounding the household. There will be a
large series of lines of culture deyelop-
ment, connected with which will be that of
ceramics.
There will be metallurgy, textile art rep
RESERVATIONS the development of musica!
treatments. The development of the per-
sonal arts, including costumes, or any
thing pertaining to the person. All these
are shown by synoptical representations.
being displayed. SO that the most untutor-
ed can realize by glance at the displays
how the civilized races have wrought from
little or nothing the marvellous and skillful
objects of the present day.
Agricultural Implements.
The agricultural implement display, con-
tanning some twenty or thirty tools, rang
ing from the rude stone or wooden hoe
with which the aborigine scratched the
surface Of the soil to the latest improved
steam plough, the work of the cultivated
brain of an inventor of the latter end Of
the nineteenth century. The transporta-
ton exhibit will describe in detail the evo-
luton from the human burden bearer, next
the animal load carrier, to the world-reach.
ing transportation facilities, on land and
water, by steam and electricity Of the ul
to date.
In the mechanical fire lighting synoptical
exhibit there are number of interesting
features. which have been prepared under
the direction Of Prof. Hough. The first
lists, was gained from the observation Of
volcano in eruption the igniting of
forest trees by lightning. Then came the
rude way of kindling spark by the rub
bling together Of two pieces of wood. which
Is still practtced by some Of the savage
tribes now in existence. Following come
the flint the lens. and nearly at the end
the match, which has been developed itself
in remarkable degree since its first intro
duction. Finally comes the electric light,
the highest type Of lighting.
Illuminating Devices.
In this will be shown two objects Of pc
culiar interest, as exhibiting the manner
in which uncivilized nations light their
dwellings. with whatever is closest to hand
and easiest applied. One of the two will
be the design Of a species of duck, one Of
the latest birds known, which was used
as a lamp by the Swiss Lake Dwellers. A
wick was put into the birds mouth and
lighted the fat of the interior furnishing
the oil, there being both reservoir and lamp
in one. The second Is a fish which is still
used occasionally by the Indians Of Alaska
pose. 1t is called the candle fish. bark
wick Is inserted in the mouth of the fish.
and light Is said to be furnished for more
than an hour. Illuminating the hut where
it is placed SO that the natives can see
plainly to finish their rude occupations,
which would otherwise be Interrupted.
The fish is described as being something
on the order of a sardire.
The electric series will be exhibited in
cases eight feet in length. In telegraphy
the earliest and latest keys will be shown.
The telephone exhibit will have an excel
lent representation, and in this Prof. Alex
ander Graham Bell will cooperate with
the officials of the museum in making 1t a
most attractive feature.
In addition to these synoptical exhibits
there will be many models shown in the
museum exhibit which will be made in the
department connected with the museum
and provided for such purpose
The packing Of the different objects,
which, Of course, will not take place vet
for some time, Is an interesting feature Of
all arrangements for sending away displays
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