The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02

' 43 exceeding 5000 feet 23 being taller ] than Mount Washington, and with Mount Mitchell overlapping Mount Washington by over 400 feet. are some
 
 soiled worn looking little object from among the buttons and other odds and ends in her work basket. She remarked rather casually, That emery ball went through the war. My father had slipped it in his pocket for some sentimental reason, and a bullet at Missionary Ridge grazed it where you see this little brown hole" It also developed that she Is kinswoman of the hero, young Pelham, ! and has a picture of him which she would willingly give to some worthy institu- tion.
 The inspiration and veritable backbone of the High School museum is Dr. J. H. Phillips, who has given many years of his life to the public schools. His every ! thought has been for the welfare of the school system, and his every effort has been concentrated upon making 1t the superb organ that it now is. Dr. Phil lips contributions to the museum haze immortalized him. He has collected sou venrs in this and foreign countries fE a score of years with this one object in view-the good of the children of Bif- mingham. His shell exhibit represents the labor and research of 9 years. One case in the museum is devoted entirely to conchoogy and it is said to be one of the best collections in the state. The specimens include the entire field as taught in the schools and colleges. It is a classified collection, and the museum is indebted to Dr. Phillips for this as well as many contribution in other cases : Another case is devoted to mineralogy. A complete collection of the minerals of Alabama among them iron red ore, iron sulphate, quartz, marble, gold and oth- CTS One piece of Alabama quartz meas ures at least six inches in diameter There is a piece of agatized wood from Arizona and a soldified shell from Lake Michigan A small collection of minerals was presented by MT. Mack Sloss and adds considerably to the value of the case of minerals. The specimens in the minerals case alone number 25OO.
 A case is given entirely to documents of a historical value. Here may be found copies of old papers relating stories of Alabama in the early days. There is Il copy of the Birmingham Independent which was published years ago. pr. Phillips said yesterday that it is his de- sire to have particularly those papers per taining to the history of Birmingham. He would like very much to get the nrst charter of Birmingham to add to the col lection Preserved in this case Is an autograph letter rom JoHh oieehieaA Whittier It is as follows:
 Dear Mir Phillips: Thanks to thee and the scholars of thy school for the tele- gram on my birthday. With every good wish for them and myself, l am, thy friend, JOHN G. WHITTIER.
 '12 mo- 20, 1Ss3
 Another letter to be found in the case is from Mrs. Paul Hamilton Hayne, the wife of the poet written in thanks for 1 Do IJou school husband.
 The first commencement programme of the Birmingham High school is one of
 the treasures kept in the case also These papers. of course, gather value [ with age. Each year makes them more ! historic.
 Among the foreign souvenirs Is an old Roman tear vase, razor used Tn Paris
 in 16OO an ivory fork said to have been } made in ancient Rome before Christ, an l Egyptian spoon, also an Egyptian vase found in the ruins of Rome, and Jap 9 anese call bell, hand made and carved. Some interesting ones collected in our own country are bronze candlestick 3 which was used before the revolution. I pair of candle snuffers of the same pe- 8 riod. also piece of oilcloth 11S years old : and a tablecloth the same age. There is { an Indian pipe, too used by Alabama l Indians One finds many other interest | ing specimens in the museum, but there
 are not nearly so many as there should ! be.
 . One man who has been conspicuous in public movements for years has signified I his willingness to give $500 in payment for an exhibit to be placed there when ever it shall be needed, and others who have not been approached would no doubt be willing to give either some relic or money for purchasing an exhibit. The plan to give the history of the article with the name of the person making the donation is followed in most cases. How ever. there are several valuable articles in the museum which were presented by an unknown person-one who exacted the nromise that the name should never be divulged to any one.
 Parties go to Europe every summer un- der the leadership of Mrs. Zac Smith; Miss Willie Allen has conducted parties for a number of years; Mrs. Frank G. Alexander has visited various parts of the United States and Canada with Bir- 1 mingham parties. and plans to go to Alaska next summer. good way Tor | members of these parties to commemorate their trips will be to place some souvenir of the journey In the museum. Birmingham is still such young city that one cannot expect very much Tn ths | the nation-at-large and even that prine'
 ms back to the original premise-th'
 United States, Americs itself, is such young country. That, however, has no kept New York from acquiring such mu
 seums as the Metropolitan Art Gallery with the museum of natural history where one may be entertained for day
 with the number and variety of Its speci
 mems and come away with as much ben
 eft as from the reading of many books
 The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston
 and the National Museum in Washing
 ton. the Art Museum in Cincinnati, al
 well as many in other places. are doing
 much toward giving the United Statei
 rank in art among the great countries
 of the world.
 Those who have travelled abroad know
 the true value and importance of the
 museum. Who that has visited Paris can ever forget the treasures in the
 I.ouyre that priceless temple of art