Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-17

mems. all carefully named and classi-
fed; and of the similar number of rare
and beautiful crinoids gathered from
the beds at LeGrand, Kansas City,
Charlottesville and keokuk; then on
the small but valuable collection OF IN
dian relics and curios. ut is only the nu-
cleus of something that l hope Will
grow into an important part or the
educational value of our public library
continued the DOCTOR.
And already this hope is being real
lied. Several valuable accessions have
been made Mr.. w. G.. Kane has loaned
the museum his collection of rock crys-
tails, worth many thousands of dollars.
1t would be impossible to ever grow
weary studying this great variety of
crystal beauty, so marvellous in its
wealth of light and color, so mysterious
in character and formation. Mature
is but a scroll; Gods handwriting
thereon 1t is a beautiful page from
Natures script that Mr.. Kane has
loaned us to study and enjoy.
Near the attractive cases of crystal
is arranged the choice collection of
sea shells, donated by Mr. Andrew f..
Wilbur their dainty colors made all the
more noticeable against the rich. red
wood of the cases. From q boys view
point, as well as that of all lovers of
bird life the fine collection of native
and exotic bird eggs, Mr.. Ernest Hub
ler's gift, is one of which to be sincerely
proud. A number of pretty specimens
of sea weed and coral have been given
by Mrs. NJ. F. Andrews and Mrs. Fl. j.
Howe. In one corner of the room a
primitive Indian meal grinder attracts
cial period, a "Septarian Nodule," pre-
scented by Mr.. A. b. Coppock. DR..
Mcbride says this curo was originally
a limestone rock which became cracked,
and these cracks, in time, were filled
with deposit of crystalized silicon.
thus forming the oddly distinct chamb-
ers in the rock. When hearing the
lover of bird, flower or stone talk out
of the fullness of great enthusiasm,
one realizes the refining, uplifting in
fluence of nature study.
1t is said that ages ago every thing
in Nature stood as a familiar letter or
word, but man in his search for ma
terial comforts has lost the key to the
sacred hieroglyphics." The many fine
collections of a museum proves that we
have not drifted hopelessly away and
that life is made something higher and
better when tired men can turn from
the cares of the day, seeking rest and
recreation in collecting and studying
the hidden meaning of the writings of
Nature. An effort will be made to In
terest young people in the museum by
having series of talks on the different
by those most interested in
the subjects, illustrated by the speci-
mems.
Not alone to fortunate circumstances
and kindly donations are we indebted
for our museum, but most especially do
we owe debt of gratitude to Mrs. C.
II. Conover. of Chicago. thru whose
generosity. love for the home of her
girlhood, and her father. was this valu-
able auxiliary to the library made pos
sihe. And on the wall of the sunny
room set aside by the board as mu-
scum. which Mrs. Conoyer has so beau
tifully fitted up as memorial one. a
bronze tablet bears the following in
scription: This room is memorial
by his daughter, to Henry e. ]. Board
man. pioneer of Marshalitown."
To the library board the museum will
aver be a precious charge, and it can
only be the wish of all that the hope
Of. DR.. Mcbride may be realized in the
fullest, that the museum will be OF in
asumable value to every student within
its radius.