The times., 1898-07-31

ing is perhaps the most dignified and
stately OF them all The interior Is dec
GRATED with manageable flags. In this
feature of decoration the exposition is
unique and consistent. The flag alone is
used but the flag is everywhere, grouped
about the column supports, draped along
the walls, fiuttering from every point, in
beautiful and inspiring harmony.
The exhibits of the different depart
ments are more or less interesting ac-
cording to the taste of the visitor. There
is a coin press, which has been making
money al Philadelphia for fifty years. 1t
is now in operation, but il was taking a
much-needed rest when l saw it. The
children always pour into the fisheries
exhibit, which tastefully entertains one
with a winding tunnel of caves cool with
green moss and stalactites. On either
side. safe behind their glass wall, the
innHmerable fish of America disport
themselves in their huge tanks. There
are all the common varieties, which
look like fish; and besides these are the
bizarre suggestions OF human saurian
shapes; the sea horses and the mer-
maids and the sea robins and eels.
Outside there is an interesting exhib-
ii of fish culture and fisheries, including
all kinds of apparatus and tackle and
models of boats and fishing troughs. Fish
Matching goes on all the time this month,
as 1, has gone on during June, with the
eggs of Colorado trout. During Septem-
Der and October salmon and Lake Su-
perior trout will be Matched.
OF course, the Smithsonian has an ex-
hibit Most visitors will find their at
tention attracted by the figures Qife
size) representing the progress of the
primitive arts; and. connected with
these are the object stories of the evo-
luton of light and fire and tools and
weapons. No one can examine the cases
containing the tools and utensils, ar
ranged as they are in series, beginning
with the simplest and ending with the
highest known form, without a clearer
perception of what civilization means.
II is impossible TO go into details, but l
would recommend this department to
every visitor.
1 will confess, however, that left it
myself and sneaked away to stare at the
uniforms and terra Gotta soldiers talking
over the Mexican War. The War De-
partment has its own little show All the
gay clothes that have strutted on the
harmless field of militia warfare or
marched up TO real cannon, have their
proxies here There is droll, understood,
seIf-satisfied West Point cadet; him /
loved fondly and returned to admire him
again and again, he looked so young and
!
form. with his stiff blonde hair; and there
is a brigadier general Of the war of 1872,
who looks like misfit clergyman and has
a uniform as uncomfortable as the mind
of military tailor could contrive: and
there is a Puritan who wears broad
linen collar over his buff coat chow long
| did it keep clean, one wonders); and
! there are two deliciously comfortable
/ Maryland and Kentucky rifiemen, in soft,
| flexible buckskin, green and white, who
| fought during the Revolution; and there
| are our boys in blue today. Looking at
| them all. ones first reflection is how
| much needless discomfort, heat and risk
! TO life soldiers have endured in order TO
| be fine. The average military uniform of
| the first century of the republic is stiff,
heavy uncomfortable in every sense
| Look at the chimney pots with cockades
which decked their poor patriotic and
perspiring brows in 1922 Look at the lace
rufsies on our Revolutionary forefathers
wrists Then compare the canvas-shirted
or woolen-bloused soldier of the Cuban
war and II is apparent that even the
| finery-loving sex is beginning to feel the
need of rational dress. With the war ex-
hibit is an imposing display of ordnance,
rifles and guns, shot and shell. Always I
found little crowd around the rapid-ire
| guns, and generally some patriot was ex-
planning their action during the late ma
| val engag agements.
For the pacific, who remember that
wars will go as they came but letters
must always be sent. the postoffice ex-
hibit has great attractions. Lay figures
| of the carriers of all countries proffer
| envelopes bearing all kinds of stamps.
| One group shows an Indian carrier driv-
| ing a three tandem team of dogs to a
| toboggan. There is a melancholy collec-
ton from the dead letter Office, including
| two cases of photographs of soldiers
| which were sent and miscarried during
| the civil war. Looking at them, / thought
how young were most of the faces, no
\ younger, however, than the faces that
| were so fearlessly turned to the Spanish
| fire at Santiago.
| The naval exhibit shows models of a
| number of battleships and cruisers and
an ordnance exhibit similar to that of
| the War Department.
One may also see pictures of all the