Evening star., 1900-12-15
AN OBJECT LESSON
Exhibit Of the National Museum at
the Buffalo Exposition,
INTERESTING And INSTRUCTIVE
Features Secured From All Parts
of the Continent.
IN THREE GREAT CLASSES

Written for The Evening Star.
1t is safe to say that when the Pan
American exposition is opened on May 1
there will be found enough of interest and
beauty to captivate every visitor. The
government exhibits are being prepared
lavishly, yet of course strictly within the
limits Of the special appropriation made by
Congress for the purpose. They will fur
nish excellent object lesson to those
who cannot visit Washington of the way
Uncle Sam attends to his usfress But as
In the life of the Individual so in the life
Of the government, there is an aesthetic
side to be gratited, and the exhibit of the
National Museum perhaps more than any
over, covers this phase of the subject Its
utility, however. must be placed foremost,
and the suggestions 1t will afford to the
ethnOlogist, zoologist and geologist are well
worthy of consideration.
This exhibit, in common with all the
others which come under the auspices of
the Smithsonian Institution is being pre-
pared under the direct supervision of Dr.
Frederick w. True, the appointed repre-
sentative Of the Smithsonian Institution
whose long experience in this special
oranch OF museum work has well fitted
him for the task Bearing in mind the
comprehensiveness of the little prefix
Pan" 1T has been his aim to prepare ex-
hibits which will display the resources not
only Of North America. but also of Central
ana South America. the West Indias and
the new possessions also to some extent
although this part of the program has been
otherwise specially provided for. During
the past summer Drs. Stejneger and Rich
Hlrnd visited Porto Rico and Messrs Pal
mer and Riley went to Cuba to obtain es
peclally desirable material
Difficulties Overcome.
The tyro In these matters may think that
as soon as the appropriation is made the
rest is as easy as falling off a log" but
experience proves the reverse to be true,
But with all the drawbacks, failures 70
collect, Unexpectedly increased exnensas
etc. the National Museum has ALWAYS been
ready on the day of opening and 1t will he
repetition of the story next May at Buff
taO ~ "
lowing the same scheme of classified tiop a G
Is now In vogue in the museum the prin-
cipai exhibits will be divided into three
great classes: % anthropology, (2) zoology
and go geology.
Valuable Exhibit
The first is being prepared under the
supervision Of Mr.. VIM. H Holmes, and
with the cooperation of the bureau of
American ethnology. The exhibit will not
be as wide In scope as on some previous
occasions. but. being more restricted and
mere strictly germane to the purposes Of
the occasion, 1t Is expected that each unit
In its makeup will be more complete 1t will
consist essentially Of twelve groups Of life
size lay figures, properly clothed and sur
rounded by accessories representing arts
and modes OF life. Two of the groups will
include several figures each, and the re-
manning ten three figures each, a man, wo-
man and child. Each group Will represent q
distinct American type of culture The fol-
lowing peoples will be included; Eskimos Of