The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20
THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.
The Great Museum, with Whose PUr.
pose Few Are Acquainted.

Kansas City Journal.
After a visitor in Washington has seen
the Capitol, the White House and Washing
tons monument, his first inquiry is for the
Smithsonian Institution, and yet it is doubt
knows anything NOSE about this splendid
museum beyond a vague impression that
1t is connected with the government and
has something to do with science. The
Smithsonian Institution has been in exist
ence little more than fifty years and re-
of its origin and a description of its work
We quote the following paragraphs from
the, New York Tribune's review of this
book:
James Smithson was the son of an Eng
lish widow of high rank Elizabeth Keate
Mac1e; and If his father, Hugh SmithsOn,
instead of contracting matrimonial alli-
ance with the great house of Percy and
thus becoming Duke of Northumberland
there would have been no occasion for this
history. James Smithson is credited with
having said, with a bitterness that can cas-
land flows in my veins. On my fathers
side am Northumberland, on my moth
me not. My name shall live in the memory
of man when the titles of the Northum-
5erlands and the Percys are extinct and
THE young man. known at first as Macie
but afterward authorized by Parliament to
ADOPT his fathers surname, was gradua ted
soon showed so much interest in science
that he became fellow of the Royal So
ciety. -" The bulk of his property was
derived. through his mother, from one of
her sons by a former marriage. None If it
came from his fathers family. ills VIII,
after making various small bequests d.
rected that his fortune should go to a
nephew. and if that nephew should have
children they should inherit in due season.
was to be his legatee, and the property
should be dey oted to the founding in Wash
ington of an tsLaoli, hment under The name
of Smithsonian Institution, for the increase
and diffusion of knowledge among men,.
Smlthson did not marry. His death oc-
Cured in 1920 The nephew survived until
1883, and died without issue"
The sum oe monsy which thus came into
the hands of the government was only half
a million dollars, but such wisdom was
brought TO IFS management that enc of The
finest museums IN the world has been
cumulated, and it is now drawing interest
on an endowment of about one million dol
lars. 1t is true that certain other requests
have been made to this institution, but the
greater part of It's accomplishments have
been through the original sum.
1t is perhaps wrong to speak Of the
Smithsonian Institution as a museum. 1t
mas become marvellous museum through
the exhibits gathered within the buildings
devoted to it, but its primary object was
the advancement of scientific knowledge
along certain lines. 1t has been at the
head of the best explorations in this coun-
try for geographical, geological and eth
biological research. Its expeditions every
where on the American continent have
accumulated vast amount of specimens,
ana years ago the national government
erected building for their deposit, now
known as the National Museum. which Is
separated by but a few yards from the
origial Smithsonian edifice.
During the half century of the institu-
tons existence the office of secretary-its
executive head - has been filled by but
three men = Joseph Henry, its organizer.
the eminent electrician who served from
1876 till 1873 Spencer f.. Baird the natural
Isl, HIS-SI. and Prof. s. P. Langley. well
known Tor his researches in physical
astronomy and latterly in aeronautics. who
is now in Office. The institution has there
tore been happy, not only in the charac-
ter of its work. but in the eminence OF
the men who have directed it, and its
reputation and authority have been quite
cut OF proportion to the money spent in
its support