The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-02
DUR LOCAL MUSEUM AND SOME OTHERS
 HERE AND ABROAD
DISCUSSION PLAN FOR IMPROVE MENT OF LOCAL INSTITUTIONS. SEVERAL HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEK.
By MYRTLE MILES.

1T mentioned the High School museum the other day." said JuGge Feagin, and the young woman to whom l was speak ing said, why, have they a museum? told her to go up there and see.
 museum in any city is of such vast educational value that no public service could be more deserving of praise than the fostering of it The one in the High school is in it's infancy as yet, and the collections necessarily modest but it has already been of inestimable assistance In the culture of the students. About two years ago a collection of birds was pre- Eented to the museum by Mr. George Griffin, then a resident of this city, put now living in Tennessee. The collection Is quite a handsome one, and is made up of the birds of North and South Amer lea It cost MT. Griffin SloOO, and was placed there in memory of his little daughter, who was a pupil in the puphc schools It was largely due to the lnflu- ence of Judge Feagin, that good, gray man, whose interests are so interwoVen with the welfare of the youth of Blr- mingham, and whose busy brain IS con stantlv devising plans for the amelioration of educational and social conditions in the broader sense. Every boy and girl in the High school is familiar with the exhibit A young lad was stroliing through the halls of the building not long ago, when he was met by Judge Fea- gin. What room is that?" asked the judge. for he well knows how to get the information he wants from youngsters. "That? Why, that is the room that has our birds. Come in ana see them. There are many queer birds in the collection but the boy knew them all, their names, where they came from. their habits and characteristics. No doubt he had learned more of the geography of the Americas from these birds than from all the text books he ever studied.
 What a good thing it would be for travellers in foreign countries to remember this local institution, and each one make it point to return with some little rellc, at least, to add to the treasures already there. Tourists go from Birmingham to all quarters of the globe. Every sum mer several parties tour Europe, going alike to Italy, Germany. Spain, France Belgium Norway and the British Isles. Think of the tiny things that could be brought from these countries with very little trouble if one would only think or it It is said that in many cases inter esting relics may be obtained without cost if it is known that the articles will be placed in a museum. The Europeans are themselves such collectors of curlos. Asia, Africa and Australia have also been visited by people from this city, though not in such numbers as they flock to Europe MT. and Mrs. Robert Jemlson and Miss Bessie Jemison have been to Japan in their travels. MT. and Mrs Ts. 4rfg tod other Egyptian cities Miss Emma Leedy has been to Northwest Africa and the Azores South Africa Is familiar to sev- eral Birmingham people. Ollie Miles and Euclid Searcy, two Birmingham boys, are living in Natal, South Africa now. The holy land has come in for its share or visitors Mr and Mrs. Bowron have been there and MT. and Mrs Otto Marx.
 In our own country there are places from which souvenirs would not be amiss. Mexico. California, Alaska all have been visited by our citizens. Mr. Claude Davis is dividing his time between Mexico and New York. Miss Edna Smith spent the summer before lest in Pueblo. studying the Indians, their mode of life, character istics and appearance from the stand point of the artist. Any number have visited Calfornia-M Mrs Mark Lewis IS there now-and Alaska.
 If every traveller for the past few years had brought some contribution home with him, Birmingham museum would be a very interesting place by this time stuffed snake bird. bit of lace, a piece of china, a picture. statuary. native woods. minerals botanical specimens any of the thousands of things that in terest the traveller will interest others, too. The only reason these things have not been brought by tourists is that they have not been asked to do so there was no place for then until the High schooi was erected a short time ago, and the museum is still not well enough known.
 There are doubtless treasures, too, here in the city that would be excellent in such a place Relies of the civil war which are becoming historic might be nlaced there with the name of the donor, and much better cared for than in a pri- vate home. There is sword in one home, up in the garret covered with duet which was captured at the battle of Shiloh. A matron who was embroider- ing on her porch not long since took out