Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-29
BIG TRADE MUSEUM
Unique Institution Located in
Philadelphia.
BUSINESS AND EDUCATION
Brings the World to the School Chill.
dren.
AGENTS SCATTERED ABROAD
Clean All Sorts of Eacts-Translating
Business Correspondence With
Foreign Houses.
AGENTS SCATTERED ABROAD
Copyright 1906, by John Elfreth Watkins)
PIiIIA DEL PHIA Pa

Copyright, 1906, by John Elfreth Watkins.)
PHILADELPHIA Pa.
September %, 1906
Unique In the world is the Philadelphia
Commercial Museum. The great work
which it is already doing for trade and edu-
cation is unknown to the public at large.
1t is thoroughly characteristic of the
Quaker city that such enterprise has
made steady progress without the beating
of drums and the waving of flags.
The only institution approaching it in
scope is the Commercial Museum of Brus-
sells, a branch of the Belgium ministry of
commerce, somewhat analogous to our new
Department Of Commerce and Labor.
What strikes the visitor first and fore
most Is that the Philadelphia Commercial
Museum is doing for the country at large
many things which Uncle Sam should be
doing through his consular corps. Its rev.,
enue depends upon this want felt by the
people who buy and sell abroad. Its edu-
catonal work in bringing even the most
distant corners OF the world to even the
humblest school child is. however, right
fully a state rather than federal enter
prise; but it is a source of wonderment
that no other state as yet has seen fit to
emulate 1t in this purely local phase of its
energies.
Some time ago Prof. VIM Powell Wilson.
director of the school of biology, University
or Pennsylvania, conceived the scheme OF
developing in Philadelphia a great group
of museums-general scientific, economic
educational and commercial-somewhat af-
ter the plan of the Kensington Museum,
London. lie persuaded the city councils to
organize the enterprise, the governor of
Pennsylvania. the mayor and municipal of
fiCialS of Philadelphia being made eX-officio
members of the board of trustees A be
ginning was made in the old general Of
flee building of the Pennsylvania railroad.
The city has since set apart a large tract
of land. adjoining the University of Penn
Gylvania. In West Philadelphia and upon
this stll being remodeled for the pIIr-
pose the group of buildings formerly erect
ed for the exposition OF American manu-
features. The brick walls OF these struc-
lures are being stripped of their staff in
easements and faced with white porcelain
blocks. In the great halls of the group
are partially installed valuable collections
presented to the museums by praCtica lily
every country in the world whose products
we import or to whose markets we send
our manufactures. Prof Wilson is the di-
rector OF the group of museums and under
his administration the Commercial Museum
has attained the broadest and most rapid
development. This institution besides be
ing supported by the city las received lib
traI assistance in special lines from the
state and United States government also
from private individuals and business
firms
The Seeds of Commercial Supremacy.
If the Yankee commercial invasion is to
90 on until the utmost corners OF earth
echo and re-echo the din of our golden
weapons OF trade-if we are to be a nation
Of commercial Spartans then should we
commence In the school room to groom our
selves for the Fray on this theory the
Philadelphia Commercial Museum is now
working. Commencing with the small
child, II is. by striking object lessons, teach
Ing what raw materials other countries in
the world have that ca n use; what we
have that they need; how every important
article of commerce is fashioned by ma
ture; the stages by which it is obtained by
man and shaped by him to meet his wants
Every school day the museum has APP
pointments with large classes of public
school children to which II gives free lee
lures upon those parts of the world about
which they happen to be studying at the
time In their Biographies In the darkened
lecture hall of the museum they view upon
a screen scores of interesting stereopticon