Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-07

Continued From First Page)
with trowel he could get an antique
effect never before accomplished with the
aid of a plain paint brush.
Wonderful Collection of Birds.
A wonderful and beautiful collection Of
birds is ready in one of the big light halls
of the building. 1t was arranged by Will
American from South American speci-
mems. The colors alone in this collection
will stop the most casual visitor; while
the value of the collection from a plain
sordid money standpoint is enormous.
There Is an egg in that collection worth
$1,000 even more than fresh hens egg
in December. This marvel Of an egg Is
one laid by a great aux, that poor wing
less thing now made extinct by the raw
ages of game butchers who found the
great aux a fine thing to eat. 1t is I'M
derstood this egg is the only one of its
kind. The specimen of the great aux it
self on exhibition there is, one Of the
three specimens known to exist In the
entire world. This specimen shows the
last of the only race of birds or animals
which is known to have been wiped out
within the memory of man. There are
no more greaet auks anywhere. Mr.. Pal
mer, who prizes this aux and who claims
it is worth 1000. the same as the egg,
was another stuffed great aux In London
at one time. He was passing taxider-
mist shop in a London street and saw
there with his own eyes f1ne-looking
great aux, fourth specimen. He went
Immediately to some rich friends, bent
on buying this specimen so the United
States could have two OF the four, but
on closer examination he found that the
enterprising taxidermist in a dull season
had manufactured the aux out of chicken
feathers. channels skin and other mil1i-
merry in the hope of gaining a customer
who was not an expert on auks.
Valuable Mineral Exhibit.
The mineral collection is of great value
to those who are interested in seeing the
worlds products in that raw state. Each
specimen is plainly marked and mounted
to show it's peculiarities. There is a fine
collection of snakes. and the "boneyard"
is growing. This is a collection of the
skeletons of nearly every thing that has
skeleton. from the tiniest crawling ami
NAL up to full grown man.
More space than ever has been given
to the archaeological exhibit This long
name covers the multitude Of restored
prehistoric animals which inhabited the
earth In the days before the flood. Prac-
tically they are the dragons Of the fairy
stories. They are enormous Lizards.
bigger than q sail boad. stare the visitor
in the face. and odd-shaped beasts larger
than any circus elephant are standing
there as true to life as they were a mil
lion-odd years back.
These things are only a very small part
Of the marvellous collection which the
United States government has worked on
for half century They are an educa-
ton in themselves. Not the least inter-
esting are the paintings of the National
Gallery of Art, the nucleus Of a gallery
which will some day be as famous as the
national gallery in London and the ma
tional collections Of France and other
European countries. The pictures are
tage.
Great Help to Teachers.
No one knows better the educational
advantages presented by the museum
than school teachers. At one time teach
ers took their classes to the museum dur
ing school hours. but Of late years they
have discontinued that, but take their
pupils there sometimes after school, some
times Saturdays
Il have no doubt" said A. T. Stuart.
director Of intermediate instruction TO-.
day, that the opening of the museum
Sunday will add greatly to the general
knowledge OF the people of this city. I
only nope that some time soon the build
ing Will be open at night. We use the ex-
hiDits there constantly in connection with
school work. Teachers take the children
there Saturdays sometimes, and in the
teacning OF history and geography the
helpful
In the study of transportation fish
cries. manufacture. mining. which are
topics now included in the modern course
OF geography. the practical exhibits In
the museum are worth hours of study in
the classroom. l think the move is
splendid one. I have always advocated
the Keeping open of libraries and mu-
seums during those hours when the school
children could visit them and IT always
Is true that when the school child takes
an interest In things Of that sort some
OF the parents are bound to follow
Glad Of Sunday Opening.
Miss e. v. Brown. director of primary
education, has always looked on the mu-
scum as a great educational factor.
II am glad 1t is to be opened Sunday"
she said Il predict that it will be a
and children will flock to the museum
Sunday afternoons and their presence
there will fully justify the opening"
Il read the announcement that the Ma
tional Museum would be open on Sunday
er Rudolph today. Il have often thought
that the splendid educational opportini-
ties presented In the collection Of the
museum are wasted in many instances
OcCduSc IuOuSdBuS VI pcOple nave never
been able to get away from their work to
visit the place.
''Of course the hours for the Sunday
opening at present are short. but they are
just the hours which on Sundays in this
city are unoccupied as a rule. hope that
some day the museum officials will be
able to extend the hours on Sunday and
also hope the museum and its splendid
collection will be opened to the public at
night.
The pictures Of the National Gallery of