Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-05


Otis Tufts Mason. head curator of. the
department of anthropology of the Ma
tional Museum, died this morning at 10
o'clock at the residence of his lifelong
friend. DIR. d. K Shute, 1719 De Sales
street northwest.
DIR. Mason was the oldest scientist Of
the National Museum. and would have
been seventy-ope years of age next April
He was the Oldest living graduate of the
class of 1881 of Columbian College, now
George Washington University.
Dr. Mason had been i'll for some time
He suffered a stroke of paralysis within
the past year. " lille he returned to his
desk in the museum. he never fully re-
covered his physical vigor.
He was forced to give up active work
about six weehs ago. Since that time
he has been at DR.. Shute's residence. but
in constant touch with museum affairs
Illness Kept Secret.
His friends in ashngton scientific
circles, where he has many. feared that
this illness was the beginning of the end.
They were anxious that nothing should
be said about it. hoping against hope
that he might recover sufficiently to re-
turn to his office.
that he was desperately Ill. There was
practically no hope for his recovery.
DR.. Mason, up to about four years ago,
lived with his daughter. Miss Sarah Ma
son, in this city. At her death he took
up his residence with Dr. Shute, and has
been there ever since.
Arrangements for the funeral have not
been made. Interment will be in the
family burial lot in Oak Hill cemetery.
Services probably will be conducted by
M yt-Ii cIn oCfn Of f1,n Eiycf
Baptist Church. of which DIR. Mason
was a member
The son-in-law of DR.. Mason DIR. E. Is.
Pollard of the faculty of Grocer Theo-
logical Seminary of Pennsylvania, has
been notified and will arrive in this city
this afternoon. DR.. Mason's daughter.
Mrs Emily Mason Pollard is herself an
invalid and will not be present at the
funeral.
At the bedside this morning. when the
end came, was Mrs. u. X. Snute, WIG OF
DR.. Mason's host.
Career of Prof. Mason.
Otis T. Mason, MA, Ph.D.. LID, was
probably known to more business men
and others outside the scientific circle
than any other scientist in Washington.
He was from 1861 to 1884 in charge of
the preparatory school of Columbian Col
lege, now George Washington, University.
In this way he was thrown in personal
contact with many men who have since
grown up and are among the now solid
business men of the city.
Aside from this DR.. Mason was sci
enlist of international reputation and
an honorary member and in many cases
a corresponding member of the most I'M
portant chronological and anthropologtcal
societies of the world.
In this country. of course, his name was
known to every one in scientific life. he
was personally known to most prominent
workers in his particular line of re-
search
He was born in Eastport. Me-. in 1898.
and graduated from Columbian College
in 1861. He was given his MA in 1862,
his Pho. in 1870 and LID. in 1898.
DR.. Mason took charge of the prepare
tory department of Columbian College in
1861 the year of his graduation, and re-
manned there till 1884. 1t was here mat
he became known to SO many Washing
tonians.
He was popular as teacher and managed
to make friends as well as students OF
most of his pupils. Almost every one In
Washington knew Prof" Mason per-
sonally All who had been thrown in
contact with him remember him pleas
antly.
In Charge of Museum.
He was called to the National Museum
In 1884, and was made curator of eth
nology IN Inc same year. In ISDS ne was
made head curator of the department of
anthropOlogy.
Prof Mason was painstaking student
and had imagination to work out the ro
nance that lay behind the woven work
of an Indian basket or the rawhide shout
der basket of an aboriginal squaw. He
wrote entertainingly and had the faculty
of arranging collections SO that they ap-
pealed both to the scientific student and
to the casual sightseer. more in search of
amusement than instruction.
He was member of the Cosmos Club.
though ill-health had prevented him of
late in taking much active part in club
life. 1t was more than a year ago that he
had a stroke of paralysis that came near
resulting fatally.
He never entirely recovered his activity
after this. Though he remained at work
in his ONCE at the museum almost to the
end. he was obliged to direct most of his
work from his desk and not, as was his
habit. out among the cases.
Nearly all Prof. Mason's books deal
with primitive American culture Among
them are 1.-THE Hupa Indian Industries
"Woman's Place in Primitive Culture"
Origin of Invention.'. Primitive Trans
portation." 1.-THE Land Problem" "An-
Equities of Guadalupe" and Aboriginal
American Basketry."