The Washington herald., 1907-10-10

In Washington's beautiful mall, half
way between the Capitol and the Wash
ington Monument, rise the red Norman
towers Of the Smithsonian Institution,
true democracy of learning This red
stone building was the birthplace of the
telegraph and the telephone. From its
walls went forth the science Of meteor
olOgy which has done so much for the
comfort and material welfare of the
world Within its precincts men have
worked for years and years in the hope
OF solving a mystery that might be COW
cred over with the point of a needle, and
other men have worked for years and
years TO solve the problems Of OvercoH-
ing the obstacles Of boundless space. All
Of them have worked for the world, for
every man connected with the institu-
ton remembers always that its founder
said II should be IAN establishment for
the increase and diffusion Of knowledge
among men"
The gift which has done so much for
science in the United States is recorded
in a viii. locked fast in the archives Of
the English Court Of Chancery, begin
ming. I James Smithson, son Of Hugh.
First Duke of Northumberland, and Eliz-
abeth, heiTess of the Hungerfords Of
Audley, and niece Of Charles the Proud.
Duke Of Somerset, now residing in Ben
timex Square do this sd day of October,
IS26, make this my last viii and testa-
ment' A bequest Is made to a faithful
servant, and then the testator leaves all
his property 10 a nephew, and to that
nephews heirs. II there should be no
heirs he DEGREES that the property go
to the United States Of America to
found at Washington. under the name
Of the Smithsonian Institution, an estab-
Hshment for the increase and diffusion
Of knowledge among men"
By this. not the United States, but the
people of the United States, became the
benehciaries OF a bequest Of $515l69 in
English gold which was brought over by
special agent coined into American
money al Philadelphia, and placed in
the Treasury at Washington. On this
money the government has pledged itself
10 pay per cent interest forever. As the
money lay idle for eight years before
Congress decided what to do with it.
interest accumulated, and since then
many bequests. large and small. have
augmented the original principal until il
now amounts TO $4,000 The income from
this private fund is not over $4,000 a
year, and as the government allows the
bureaus under the institutions supervis-
Ion $4,000 a year for research work. the
funds seem adequate for the perfection
OF the work at present planned
Great controversy was provoked among
the mighty men Of the nation before the
acceptance Of the bequest was decided
upon Calhoun and Preston argued
stormily against the people accepting a
gift Of the kind, claiming that il was
beneath the dignity Of the nation to take
such offerings from outsiders John
Quincy Adams led the more liberal
minded faction, and it was decided 10 ac-
cept the gift. Il was a long time. how
ever, before there was a definite decision
as TO its use. Every kind Of educational
plan and institution was suggested. from
normal schools and lecture bureaus to
schools for the blind
Finally it was decided to develop such
an idea as that proposed by Prof Joseph
Henry, Of PTinceton,-establsh an insti-
tuition for scientific research, publish the
results Of each investigation, and place
a copy Of the publication in every first
class library on the face Of the earth.
An act passed in 1916 provided for this
use Of the Smithson fund, and named
the President OF the United States, the
Vice President. the secretaries Of the de-
partments, the Chief Justice. the Com
missioner of Patents. and the mayor of
the city Of Washington, as the persons
to constitute an establishment for the di-
rectlon Of such an institution. The in
stitution was 10 be directed by board OF
regents composed Of three Of these. with
three Representatives, three Senators.
and six citizens" Of the United States.
building was then erected TO salt the
needs OF so great a scientific establish
ment. The United States government
gave a site on the Mall, and on this was
erected Of red stone an excellent exempt
hcation Of the Norman or Lombard style
Of architecture, a style which antedates
the Gothic. and which harmonlzes ad-
mirably with the surroundings Here
were placed, from time to time, results
Of expeditions, practical proofs Of re-
search and exploration, until the exhibits
OutgTeW their quarters, and on the Mall.
near the Smithsonian, the government
later erected a building known as the
National Museum, which now houses
most OF these exhibits
A noble building Of white marble is now
being erected In the Mall. just opposite
the Smithsonian, for the accommodation
OF the National Museum, which has long
since outgrown its present quarters. In
this new home the exhibits Will be so
arranged as 10 afford the visitor oppor-
tunity 20 see what ne is looking tor with
out trouble. From the coat that George
Washington wore AT Valley Forge, 10 the
swords Of officers who fought at El
Caney. the national history is preserved
and illustrated In hallowed material form
The first rude telegraph instrument the
experimental stages of the telephone
but there are more than six million
things to see in the National Museum.
The great need for such an institution
is best realized when 1t is recalled that
IN its earliest days the Smithsonian was
with one or two small exceptions, the
sole representative of active scientific
work in this country. Wise men have
served as secretaries 20 the institution. a
position of great influence and response
billty. Only four has the Smithsonian
known in this capacity in the sixty
years of Is existence each being identi-
fed with some important scientific work
Dr. Joseph Henry, the first secretary, was
noted for his experiments with the electro
magnet, and on his discoveries have been
founded all modern systems Of electric
lighting and electric power. Spencer Full
lerton Baird, who after twenty-eight years
as assistant secretary, came to this Office
I'm 1873, was a distinguished naturalist
He was father Of the United States Fish
Commission. and imp rtCd such an impe-