The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-21
HISTORY TOLD In GROUPS.
NOVEL SHOW IN THE BROOKLYN
CHILDREN,S MUSEUM.
n Result OF Tive Months Of Hard WORK
by Miss Bowen An Attempt 70 Rep-
resent Accurately by Models Scene.
In the Early History OF America

resent Accurately by Models Scene.
IN the Early History OF America.
In the only children's museum in m.
world, the one in Brooklyn. may be seen an
attempt TO make history tangible by care
fully studied and modelled groups. Miss
Agnes E. Bowen has recently completed n
series Of three groups, Illustrating the
Spanish, Dutch and Cavalier types Of early
settlers within the limits Of the United
States. IL took two months Of eight hours
work a day to make these three groups.
Standard histories of Cos ume were con.
suited in French and German "a well a.
English. Old prints were sought and
copies Of paintings OF the period represented.
History was studied to g. the domestic
and social life Of the types represented.
Then the city OF New York and the TERRITORY
a. far afeld as Canada were ransacked for
materials and properties which would
truthfully exhibit what the histories had
taught.
As a result the three groups are really
| historical documents. telling their story in
wood, PAPER mache, textiles and some
dozens OF other materials instead Of in
paint or printers ink.
The Dutch group represents a traders
log cabin. surrounded by a stockade, in the
woods near Albany. There is a painted
forest background, but the nearer woods
are Of twigs, kiln dried and dipped In the
wax used for vegetation in the nature
groups at the American Museum 81 Natural
History. At the door stands the Dutch
wife, in dress accurately copied. The
artist has not forgotten to give her very
red arms, since red arms, produced by
very tight sleeves, were much admired by
the Dutch Of that day
The trader wears a deersdn suit. Three
Indians are selling him bearskins. The
bearskins came from a toy shop. Two
Indians came from there also, the third
being modelled. because no Indian doll could
be found which would sit down in a natural
attitude. The guns were tiny rifles used as
advertisement by a store.
The pipe came on a st. Patrick's Day en-.
blem. The settler haa two very good hunt
ing dogs, found in a toy store.
A small boy supplied an idea regarding them.
The dogs wouldn't like the Indians
said he. Their ears would be down Inc
stead OF up"
Inquiry confirming his view, the Ears
were properly manipulated.
The hunting which 10 took to find all these
things consumed q good part Of the two
months devoted to the task. A young
woman at the museum sacrificed q raven
lock Of her hair for the Indians heads, hut
IL was found impossible 20 manipulate
human hair, and fine sewing silk had TO he
used. each tendril fxed separately in the
wax heads with forceps.
The house in tbs Cavalier group il made
OF red brick. with brocade curtains at the
windows, and the figures are dressed in silk
and velvet. The house has rms porches.
with carve pillars and pilasters, the carving
being lone by hand by Mr.. Bender Of the
American museum. A carriage road made
Of OF glue. cut with wheel marks and then
sprinkIed with sand, passes the porch. The
grass h the spagnum moss hat nm for
Christmas trees, each separate spray dipped
in hot glue and then fxed in place.
Masses Of roses, the smallest that some IN
French artificial flowers, decorate the gar
den, and were the most expensive property
purchased. Az for the figures, there is a
cavalier on horseback. executinG q sweeping
salute with his hat to his lady love in tho
porch above.
The costumes we're copied infinitely from
. standard history Of costume In America.
The cavalier h in green velvet corduroy
with a plumed hat In which n q true lovers
Knot Of real gold and diamonds. donated
by q feminine enthusiast. The girl on the
porch N . beauty in pale blUs silk. Tho
blue rosette on the horses head. match
ing that on the ady's. IN strictly historical.
a. are the other small details.
In the Spanish group the background
h q California mission building In the en-
--a-. z.mka EwgAs.-- H-s-. - A..
brown robe Of the order and q rosary n
bird seed. Before him o Spanish soldier 10
telling Of the possibility OF another mission
further no In the mountains. and ~ has
sketched q picture in the sand With his
sword to illustrate his tale. Cactus and
Other desert growth are scattered shout.
made by Miss BorsfsIi, who does such
things IN q for the American Mu-eum
The o are ~ inches long by ~ IN
the Other Dimensions. m are mounted
under glass. Three others will follow shorty
iIluptFattng French. Quaker and New Eng
n colonial scenes.
Miss B.wsn. yho, Is tho frs. % mAss
a. a child. vhen her mother used 70 con-
trive somewhat similar groups for the "
nmination 81 Blble scenes A. she rev
older her father used To take hev ~ identity
the sites ~ all the old forts and sariv s@t-
em~atS about Broohlyn Mo Rrev NJ
wifh a 1--we ~ history made tanRih~. ant
whsn Director Lucas ~ the Brooklyn Nh
ssum asked her ~ carry out hev ideas IN
thu history dspaFtnnsnt ~ ths childrsn'a
ras-eum tho Groups we've ora ~ the ~
suits.
Ths sfUxfy shs has paf INTO thsm makes
thsm valuable Ths intsre~f ~ tho childre7
wbo fruuuPnt tho mRlasuua was arnrsina
Shs worked in tho basement am th"v
sWmrmsd about ths window 20 watch hsr
until thsy had IN 10 driven away ~ xE@
her hGha N woFh ny
NpFstty HtFi - nroohiyn ssrv-,i - mrdei
hor The 0nvalteFss sueethNnrs ant ro-a' "
ths sw~eptna eotoainl eourtsSv whiir obi"
artist bsnt ths wives % ~prutlo" '
Posturs
at H0T'