New-York tribune., 1906-07-29

DR.. Hermon Carey Bumpus the director Of
the American Museum of Natural History. in
this city. who was recently elected the first
president of the American Association of Mu-
seums. is said be unusual among scientists
in that he is A good administrator as well as
good scientist He is considered to be especially
gifted as a teacher by many who have come
IN contact with him instructor He has
The faculty II robbing science Of its stilted mys-
tery and presenting it in such an interesting ana
clear way that it becomes popular as vel as
easily understood. The result of the possession
OF this quality may De seen in the way in which
The Museum of Natural History has been
made an adjunct Of the educational system IN
the last few years and in the extension OF the
plan for presenting the exhibits in such a way as
10 appeal 10 the general public as well as TO the
scientist
one may still find a shellfish at the museum
looking very much like clam labelled Tel
lima rugosa: born island OF Opara.' title whose
only impression 10 the ordinary visitor is that
here. indeed, is represented great learning and
which sends him away wondering how one
small head can contain much. But this style
Of exhibiting interesting things is being grad
lialy changed. Instead of a card on l5-foot
or 2O-foot slice of the giant redwood tree read
ing simply "Sequoia gigantea-found in Cali
fornia" one now finds q series of cards radiat-
ing from the centre. each recording some great
event occurring in the worlds history at the
time the particular ring thus marked was grow
ing. and the exhibit has been made interesting
TO the general public in this way.
It was because of his unusual qualifications for
such A position shown by his success as an
original investigator administrator at the
marine laboratory at Woods Hole. Mass. as
professor If comparative anatomy at Brown
University. that he was chosen in 1902 as the
first director of enc of the greatest museums of
natural history on the American continent
BOY FORESHAD0WED MAN.
Dr. Bumpus whose father was a city mission
ary in Boston. declares that he cannot remem-
ber when a special fancy for natural history
first manifested itself. II is said that it was in
his early days that he went a step further than
did the tabled youth who went to catch
whale" and found his fish in his mothers pail.
The youthful Bumpus selected his mothers
washtub for his aquarium. In it he kept his
mud turtles and other specimens Of marine life
These he would watch with great interest when
he only six seven years old.
When he reached college. through which he
worked his way by economical living and sum-
mer toll. il was apparent to every one that nat
ural history a favorite subject with him.
His room was a museum of bottled specimens.
and he soon was. recognized as the favorte pu-
pil Of Alpheus Spring Packard, the we'll known
professor Of zoology and geology at Brown.
DR. Bumpus when at college was "A practical
joker in a kindly sort Of way and lover os
good, wholesome fun His room was the centre
Of coterie that enjoyed fun as well as science
Even his practical jokes indicated the bent OF
his mind. on one occasion the body OF a warus
was sent to the university for purposes Of
science by some friend of the institution When
il reached the dissecting room it was somewhat
odorous. for il had been a long time dead. This
fact did not deter young Bumpus from under
taking the task Of making an examination OF
The animal. His enthusiasm made him late for
dinner at the boarding house where the 50 a
week eating club of which he was member
partook of its meals. When the landlady went
TO the door to let him in she detected peculiar
ana marked OdOr about his person. II was so
strong that she exclaimed You cannot come
into the house with that odor! No sir you'll
have to eat your dinner outside, I'll put it on
the window sill for you" That was where he
was obliged 10 eat his meal.
Young Bumpus decided to get even with her.
The next evening when he came to dinner he
had a small turtle in his coat pocket Surren-
utiously he slipped ii into the pitcher Of iced
water when the andlady was out of the room,
When she returned the turtles claws could he
heard scratching the sides of the pitcher
Her quick ears caught the strange sound.
What is that2' she asked.
No replied.
she walked around the table and glanced into
the pitcher.
WHO did that?" she inquired looking around
the table.
There was no response
4 know who did it," she exclaimed trium-