The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1900-05-11
AM ltA1MENT 4,
Nan Obtains Some Of Both from the
Depths Of the SEQ. SIS.
e Talk With the. Scientists Of the Na-
Nm tl6nal Museum Discloses Many
Facts Of Alnost Univer-
ST II 81 sal Interest. III S. s#
Especial Washington Letter.

~ LIE agricultural Qep0rt~
lN ment ia few weeks ago we were
s. { -,... entertained by study Of in
sects and parasites BY the learned SCI
entists who propagate those minute
specimens of animal life and devote
their efforts and energies to discover
ing their histories and mysteries,
: 1t is only short walk, little stroll
over beautiful lawns; from that point
OF interest to the National museum,
where there are tens iof thousands of
the wonders Of nature gathered and
garnered from all quarters of the
world. But for the fact that it would
give something of a sameness and dull
ness Of routine to these letters, it might
be well Tor the writer to spend 4 day
each week in this National museum
and tell you of the fresh wonders which
are disclosed to the students and
philosophers who have opportunity to
60 there.
This afternoon we were shown the
treasures of the ocean; the things of
value which are contributed to man
kind by the depths of the sea; the
fruits from those depths, the skins and
scales of fishes which are available for
the industries and the arts; the curious
uses OF sea weeds, sea slugs and the
polyPi. OF the things of value, many
OF them Indispensable, which are gath
cred from the sea there appears to be
no end. The animals of the field and
the birds of the air furnish food, raj
ment and ornaments for man and wom-
an, but their value to mankind is
dwarfed almost into insignifcance
when we have disclosed to us all of the
wonderful things which the. various
tribes> of fishes and other inhabitants
OF the ocean yield for the general well
fare of the lords and ladies of creation.
Aboriginal man was warrior and
rutfian, and his wea pons of offense and
defense predominated in the develop
ment of science. The bow, arrow,
shield and finally the sword marked
the development of man from his low
est estate. Refinement and culture
have come only in the younger CEN
turtles of this very aged world. The
Indians of Brazil captured the ray from
the ocean and made arrow points of
its keen-pointed vertebrate. An arrow
thus pointed, with strong bow string
back of it, would 60 clean through a
mans body. The teeth of sharks have
been used for arming weapons from
time immemorial. In the National
museum there are specimens regarded
as more than 5000 years old.
The natives of Dacca use, and have
long used, the jawbones of the boalee
for combs, the teeth being small and
smoothly set, SO as to make them readi-
ly available for removing loose tibers
from cotton and wool. The Indians of
North America have always used the
jaws of the sleeper shark" for head
dresses. The Eskimos use large fish
bones for canes and for weapons of
offense. a..
But the sea products for Ornamental
ton and for use in the arts and in man
ufactures are too numerous to be all
tabulated and referred to in a letter;
they would fill volumes and make an
interesting library which would re-
quire lifetime to read, to the exclu.
sion of all other entertainment and
learning. Ornaments for. ladies of al
most numberless sorts are made from
fish scales. They furnish adornments
for the women in savage and semi-sav.
age life, as we'll as for the refined and
cultured ladies dwelling in the higher
circles of modern society in all civilized
nations. Fish scales furnish paint and
powder; they furnish eyebrows, dim
pies, "beauty-spots'' for the cheeks