The National tribune., 1899-10-05

streets and avenues, with parks and boue
wards, but he saw here the seat of Govern.
ment of a mighty Nation, equipped with
political and scientific departments, and to
utilize these in the promotion of advanced
learning he conceived National University.
1t was because of this deep interest in the
early founding of the institution that Presi.
dent Washington made known to the Com.
missioners of this District his intention of
contributing $4,000 in stocks of the Poto
mac Company toward founding such
university. But, alasi in those days, as to
day, certificates of stock often melt into
souvenirs only. 1t is very mistaken idea
pervading the country that the Govern
ment ever had the handling of any fund of
President Washington's for such a purpose,
and ought never TO bear repeating. The
intention was valid, for it was not dreamed
at the time that day would come when
Potomac stock would have no value; but
such was the case before the Commissioners
could realize aught therefrom. However,
the University idea has always prevailed
among leading public men, scholars,
scientists, and statesmen.
In the meantime scientific bureaus have
grown up one by one under the Government
until the whole range of physical science is
represented in the different departments
for the purpose of prosecuting research in
geology, astronomy, meteorology, geog-
raphy, chemistry, statistics, inventions, eth
nology, anthrepology, etc, throughout the
gamut of universal knowledge. Here they
are to day ready to be combined as integral
parts Of great scientific institution.
A National University is sure outcome
Of the annual expenditure of millions of
dollars, and which will be the expression of
higher aspirations of American Republican,
ism. The Daughters of the American
Revolution, on the day of their organization,
Oct IL, 1890, passed a resolution to make
the will and wish Of Washington on these
high educational lines part of their work
The seed has not fallen on fallow ground;
others have caught the inspiration, and the
work Of plowing and subsoiling is going
on in societies Of men and women.
The result it is hoped will end in such a
National awakening that the Government
will see it's way to stir up the dry bones of
this institution and make it living, breath
ing force, fed by the great National artery
from whence alone it should draw its life.
Our purpose is not to take the reader
through the intricate paths of scientific re-
search in these departments, but to point
out the material results in some detail, as
the gathering and the classification has
gone on, so that the visitor may bring away
some definite recollections of what he has
seen. For many years the late Dr. G
Browne Goode was the able Curator of the
National Museum. / never pass along its
corridors that do not feel his presence, and
the whole place bristles with the touches
left by his magic hand. To him and Prof.
Otis T. Mason, so long the master mind in
the chronological Department, am i in.
debted for an insight into the rich inherit.
ance of these collections
The hidden lessons of archaeology that
have been made an open book by these
Professors bring us into very close touch
with the fore people OF the world 1t is
through these records that Prof Mason has
shown what woman's share has been in the
worlds progress, and there we read the
trend OF their thought as the years went by
in that far-off time.
Prof. Mason, in his admirable summing
up OF woman's share in primitive culture
gives prophetic conversation between
Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
The man says: 81 see before us centuries ot
labor and conflict and suffering, mingled
with repose, industry and progress. Tn,