The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1905-06-19
HISTORIC MUSEUM.
TO BE BUILT.
CLUBS INTERESTED IN PLANS
By LAURA BRIDE POWERS.

Listen, all ye ciUbWomen VINO are
really in earnest in your patriotism and
@ho seek for something more than skim
milk scholarship in your club work-hsten
10 this message 10 intelligent Califor-
nians-doesn't this mean you?
The message comes from Southern Cal
itornia and emanates from the brain Of
that leading Californian, Charles F.
Lummis, who has done more 10 foster an
intelligent love of State than all the So
called patriotic societies in it put to-
gether. And the reason therefor is plain
he lays down for Us in simplest fashion
tile history Of the big West, the part it
has played in the development of the ma
lion, the achievements of her Spanish
pioneers and the Argonauts that fol-
lowed, and the part il is yet to play in
the unfolding Of the great commercial
drama Of the world He gives US reasons
for our patriotism.
He points out 10 us the honorable
monuments Of a heroic past and urges
their safeguarding for the children of the
future-fOr the millions who viii some
day make their homes in California, lin
our neighbors' fields
As is well known, it was due TO Mr..
Lummis' efforts that the Landmarks Club
Of Southern California was formed and
under whose direction ii has accomplished
the stupendous task of safeguarding
cia OF Pala, and portions Of Missions San
Juan Capistrano and of San Diego.
IL was through his Virile pen and pow
erful personality that he caught the ear
OF the Southern Californians-most of
whom, by the way. are Californians by
choice rather than by birth-and created
a sentiment among them that, measured
commercially, stands for something over
5000. And this is the type of sentiment
that counts-the sentiment that touches
the pocket. II was through this fund that
the work Of safeguarding the Southern
California missions has been accom-
pIshed, and most OF it, mark you con-
tributed by imported Californians.
CALIFORNIA MUSEUM.
Now comss Mr.. Lummis with a propo-
sitiOn equally patriotic, equally sane,
equally necessary TO our future reputa-
tions for intelIigence-the creation of the
Southwest Society Of the Archaeological
Institute of America. now in its nine
teenth month, and thus past the drool-
ing and teething and colicky period.
The society is organized in Los An
eeles. with its headquarters there. And
on this score. let il be said to the honor
Of Los Angeles. that it is about the only
city in the State that can round up
enough public-spirited people to form
such an monumental society and who
viii pay up to keep it going without
public dunning.
The object of the society is, primarily.
TO establish in Los Angeles a California
museum. where would be gathered and
safeguarded all that pertains to early
California that is now lying around loose.
Il would catch its archaeology alive,
which il is already doing in saving the
cid folk songs of California. This is done
through the medium of the monograph,
into which aged Indians sing, the last
remnants of their race. So, too, are the
exquisite songs of the prepastoral days,
the sweet love songs Of the caballeros,
and the plants Of senoritas. who knew so
well how TO pour out the exultation and
the tumult of the soul in song.
Already has the young society done
something-it's a way with these Lummis
enterprises. He touches the foreheads of
the faithful with the divine fire, and 10,
the thing goes. Last year he suggested
the wisdom of purchasing the Caballeria
collection of historic paintings from the
old missions-which were quite probably
stolen from the churches during the era
Of northumberland, forsooth, it was
done.
These are now the priceless possessions
Of Los Angeles. and blessings on her
people for their enterprise.
Likewise has the society valued pos
session IN the Palmer-Campbell collec-
don Of California archaeology, which, with
the Caballeria paintings, and the 500 rec
ords of almost extinct folk-songs, is
worthwhile nucleus for the proposed
museum.
LUMMIS IDEA.
In regard to the erection of 1T, listen
to what Mr.. Lumrafs says:
I'VE need q great free museum in Los
Angeles-not merely TO exhibit, but to
save, the history. science, art and TO-
nance of California and the Southwest
The museums OF Germany, England, and
even Spain, send costly expeditions to
carry these things off from under our
noses. France has laden eighteen ships
with our treasures. The great inshtu-
lions Of Boston, New York, Chicago,
Philadelphia, are taking from US, by the
carload, what they think valuable to ed
ucate their children. Even Turkey is
.skinutng our country Qn President
Roosevelt's phrase for that wonderful
in Constantinopie
isn't II time for US OF California 10