El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-12-09

and there are TWO large pieces u Allll0
stone secured by glacial actlon ana
the other fluted by the same process
The historical exhibits represent all
of the noted fiegres of American MS
worn by Washington, the evening coat
worn by Lincoln at the time OF MS
assassination, the presents given 20
Grant by rulers of the nations Of the
earth on his globe girdling tour. and
thousands Of other things Of great MIS-
tOrical value because Of their assOci-
alton with the men who have made the
American nation
In Realm of Invention.
In the realm of invention one may
see the first telegraph instrument, the
first typewriter, one Of the first OF
the worlds railroad engines a mooel
of the first steamship. and then he may
follow all Of these first things down
to their present degree Of perfection
But the National museum is more
than a house filled with curiOstues. In
hundreds Of rooms not open to the sight
seeing public scientists are engaged IN
studies which tend to promote the pro
gress Of the human race It's cOlIeC5-
tiOns have made possible research WORK
which has formed the basis of some
OF the most important economic acnleNe-
ments of the American government
While the primary duty Of a museum
is to preserve the collections contlded
to its care, yet the importance Of Ihe
collections rests not upon the mere Da-
sis Of custOdianship, neither upon the
number of specimens, nor yet upon
their intrinsic value, but upon the uses
to which they are put Under the du-
thOrity Of congress, not only are us
collections Of service IN washington,
but duplicates Of many OF its specl-
mems are sent to schools throughout
the United States for study and re-
search there.
But above this use is that to which
they are put by the scientists OF the
world in their efforts to extend Lne
boundaries Of human knowledge The
-rrz.- rrnrnH- G.
working year in and year out along these
lines. Likewise the scientists connected
with other scientific institutions OF the
country are permitted TO use Ine Ma
tfonal museums collection either IN
Washington or at their own lnsIlIu-
tons. The museum freely places It's
collections at their disposal And in It's
efforts to promote the general cause
OF science and progress the national
museum does not limit this spirit OF
helpfulness TO the boundaries of the
United States Any scientist from any
other nation Is given the same priY1-
lege and specimens may be sent TO Tor
eign countries for study and cOmpar1-
SON In this way the national museum
is a conspicuous factor in the advance
ment Of knowledge wherever clT1l1za-
ton has a fOOthOld.
Many Hidden Specimens.
Only a comparatively few OF the mil
lions Of specimens possessed oy Ine
National museum are seen by the VS.
itOr. The others are kept IN ureprOoI
rooms. in dark cases. and from them
the scientist reads the earth story OF
prehistoric times and masters the sci
entific problems Of the present Back
in his laboratory with his thousands
Of specimens around him. he IS engaged
in studies which are destined to affect
every human being in the civilized
world. He may be making incursions
into the prehistoric past and getting
new knowledge Of the origin Of the
earth and Of the millions OF species OF
animal and plant life which inhabit It.
For instance. the scientist whose
( speciality is birds may be studying the
: kinds Of birds found on a certain Island
and comparing them with those found
[ on the nearest mainland By the char
acter Of the birds on the island he Is
I able to form an idea as to its age
and thus TO check up the conclusions
/ Of the geolOgist in the same connection
Likewise the scientist whose study
! relates TO the animals OF the earth IS
able to approximate the age OF certain
l mountains by the character OF the AMI
mails he finds there In mis- studies OF
the remains of extinct animal life and
the character Of the deposits in which
/ they are found the geCSSist is able to
: 90 back thousands of years and dis
{ cover facts about the earth as Il eN-
I listed then as certainly as the child IS
/ in the sDringtime and fade away In
| the fall It will be the purpose of this
+ series Of articles to tell the story or
the work g this great institution and
/ to show in what unheard OF ways its
! results fSter down to and affect the
/ lives of every man. woman and child IN
I the TTnite7 States.