New-York tribune., 1906-12-30
BUSTS FOR MUSEUM.
GIFT OF MORRIS X. JESUP.
yoseph III. Choate Principal Speaker
j. p. Morgan H.


Joseph II Choate was the principal speaker at
the unveiling OF the busts of ten men Of science
st the American Museum OF Natural History
yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Choate accepted the
gifts in behalf OF the Museum. explaining that
as aTr. Morgan could not be there. and Norris
X. Jesup could not accept his own gift. he was
the only man left 10 do IT, Mr.. Choate paid
high tribute 20 the giver. calling him the great
est benefactor OF the Museum. DR.. Herman Q.
Bumpus, director OF the Museum. made the
speech of presentation in behalf of Mr.. Jesup.
IT was announced that j. Pierpont Morgan, who
was expected TO preside. unable TO be pres
ent because Of a slight attack Of grip In his
ubsence Dr. Henry F. Osborn occupied theychair.
The busts, which were unveiled without any
ceremony while the speeches were being made
In the auditorium, We're placed IN inches in the
walls about the foyer. They represent Benjamin
Franklin Alexander Won Humboldt, John James
Audubon, John Torrey. Joseph Henry, Louis
Agassiz. James Dwight Dana. Joseph Leidy,
Spencer Fullerton Baird and Edward Drinkor
Cope.
M men made brief addresses in memory Of
these men. The speakers Or. s. Weir
Mitchell. Major Theodore horner, military at
tache OF the German Embassy; DR.. c. Hart Mer-
r1aEn. chief OF The United States Biological Sur
vey; DR.. Nathaniel /. Britton, director OF the
New York Botanical Garden; DR.. Robert s.
Dr. Arthur 7. Hadley. president Of Yale: DR..
Hugh II. Smith. Deputy Commissioner Of the
Bureau OF Fisheries; DR.. William Kieth Brooks.
Johns Hopkins University. ana Henry F. Os-
born. OF the Department OF Vertebrate Paleon-
tology Of the Museum OF Natural History. A. E.
EerTill. OF Yale. read letter from Edward Ev-
erett Hale. euloglztng Louis Agassiz. Another
letter expressing the regret OF Professor Putnam
That he could not be present~to speak on Agass;z
SEaS h4 d
States Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Mr. Choate spoke as follows:
AS you have already heard, It is only IN an
accidental capacity OF survivor that have the
Efft. Mr.. Morgan could not come, Mr.. Jesup
could not accept his own gift, for he Knows
bow much better and more delightful IL IS 10 give
than 20 receive, ana so here stand ior a mo
hlent receive this donation. II this were the
trsl Of Mr. Jesups gifts 10 the Museum. II
tught 10 take place among The iTnrnortals. 10
place in our vestlbule at the entrance or this
ball OF science. the tusts OF these great masters
.-when you come TO see them unveihng these
busts you can that ca n and all are great
20 place them for the future generations OF New
York and America 10 know their pictures and 10
pass them as they enter this great institution Of
bc.eace would be IN itself very great honor.
But MI Jesup ever since thirty-siX years ago,
has been enriching you and introducing 10 this
Museum wonderful gifts.
Most Of you are undoubtedly familiar with
the chief ones Of the Jesup collection OF woods.
The wood OF every tree known 10 be existing in
North America, a perfectly novel collection that
brought by Mr. yessup from the Northern Pa,
rife expedition, from the shores OF Asia and
Europe also a large boz OF very wonderiuI sam
pies, are from his generous hands, and even now
he is planning out Tor our BENEFIT an eXpedl-
tion for the exploration OF Northern Egypt, and
] sure that ne VIII 1nd giant fossils re-
mains somewhere between the mouth Of the Nile
and exactly where 4 cannot tell, but Mr.. Osborn
knows and at this moment could put his finger
on the very spot with prophetic vision
Mr.. JesUp has been what I cal scientific
tdearst. Making no pretensions OF being a
sole rtaHf u ffrr1EG nr efGc
in the value and meanings Of science, in which
he IS absolute believer. With that original
faith which came down TO him from HIS fathers,
while on the one hand he is sending Peary 10
the North I'ole-and II they both live they will
Set it-on the other Re is taking care OF our
city museums and OF museums in the Far East
doing good on e4 hands.
This museum, If you viii notice the date. was
born IN TIE dark aEe3 OF the cisv OF Ne-v York
In 1s70-when the public enemy was IN pos
session of TIE CITY and treasury. It was a
gloomy day or the erection Of such an ;nstitJ-
tion At the tine our board, getting a strong
ray OF light that dark time, had employed
the celehrateG Dr. Hawkins tc prepare models
OF The vast fossil mammals for exhibition 10 rha
people. They gave him a house in Central Park
where he set 20 work. By ana by there came
"a another set OF public officials who We're as
hntednuvian as the fossils themselves and thev
broke t5sIn all up and sent the doctor on his
way, We never dreamed Of help for such an
institution this from the city bur light soon
broke upon Us, and gradually the city officials
began 10 mo that this educational IN
ertutoD maintained for the benefit of the peo-
Pc; but II was hard struggling IN the earry days
When Mr. Jesup. tventy-six years ago tooi- tj7a
presidency OF this body he found certain fossils
fe1aalneq IN the board Of trustees and actually
breathed into them the breath Of life He has
kept Them alive ever since, and every year the
museum has exhibited new energy and success
sho more than three-fourrhs Of II IS due to his
generous gifts and his inspiring presence
Other valuable gifts that he has ehovveres
Epoh Us are material. He has given US some
tning far better and grander than these bovr
ever. He has given us twenty-five OF the hest
FeaIs or his life devoted with untirinc eeneros
tty, inspiring honor 10 the success Of This enter
prise. II is also 10 be remembered 20 the f~ee+
creoit or Mr Jesup that II was during his aS
fninistraron that the museum took a bir sino1a
Htep forward We had long been hesitating ae