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

Officials of the National Museum are
waiting with interest to see what the
first Sunday opening of the new museum
building tomorrow will bring forth in
the way of visitors. The splendid white
building a 10th ard B streets will be
open 20 the public from 1:3O to 4:3C
O'Clock pm. this being the first Sunday an
Immensely valuable collections stored
there. The ncrth entrance, on street,
al he foot of 10th street. will be the only
one opened.
The museum i u vast treasure house
practically unknown TO WashingtOnians
because o. the fact that the doors of the
building have been kept closed during the
hours when working people could visit
there. With the building of the new
s-onc structure the question of opening
ii durins popular hours arose again, and
been made The question of light and
heat has always been the hard one u
solve. a. the appropriation for maintain
ing the museum has been limited in
some respects.
Chance for Washingtonians.
But now the question has been solved
partially and Washingtonians will have a
chance to see the collection of world
wide fame which heretofore has been ex-
hibited almost entirely for the benefit of
The chance tourist who has taken interest
enough to visit the place. The books
of the Euseaum in which visitors inscribe
fh.ir
over the world spend many profitable
hours there. but the Washington visitor
is as rare sometimes as the specimens in
the famous archaeological exhibit, whicn,
il its new home makes one of the finest
spectacular exhibits, well as one of
the most valuable from the standpoint
OF the scientists who have arranged it..
AS yet only a part of the museum s
big collection is in readiness in the
new building. but that part which is
ready is fascinating and replete with
information and interest. Perhaps as
interesting any of the collections in
the new building are the slas5-incased
groups of the chronological collection
In this section of the museum occur
the Hfelike and lfe-sze models OF the
men. women and children of all races
Aboriginal bushmen. Indian warriors
peaceable "savages," at their tasks Of
making their scanty clothes and odd
dishes of food; Enthusiastically dressed
men from the countries of the east,
which Rudyard Kipling has brought so
close To the popular mind; ancient
japanese warriors and their unique
armor-these and hundreds of other
exhibits are there to be seen for the
first time by thousands of Washingto- =
mans. For each exhibit book could
be written or a long and interesting G
lecture given. and. in fact, the various
individual groups in many instances
have served the basis of iuStructiy.
reading matter.
An Interesting Indian Group.
One of the latest groups is one which
interests school children immensely /,
is a IifeIike presentation of that famous
old-timer, Capt. John Smith. making a
nefarious deal with some Indians. He is
undoubtedly buying Virginia farm lands
now worth a million dollars for a couple
OF quarts OF London-made blue beads
The group is a work OF art. arranged BY
w. II. Holmes and Harry Hendley. This
group was originally seen at the James
town exposition. However, one of the
delicate touches in the original group ha.
had to be left out of the one now in it:
big glass case in the museum. The miss
ing feature was the figure of one OF Capt
Smiths crew. who for the first time il
his life had run across a persimmon. Th,
Indians had brought a basket of the puck
cry fruit down to the shore. to give the
pale faces a treat. This greedy sailor
whose fame has never ded. grabbed
green persimmon. and his pursed lips ant
surprised expression were made part o
the property OF the United States ethno
logical collection for the exposition.
An Indian canoe, a duSout, is shown il
this group. full size with a husky IndiaI
handling a paddle. IL will be noted tha
the canoe looks 10 he actually a coupl
Of centuries old. although il is really bU
few years old. This trick of the Gu
rator art Is the work of Harry HendIey
who discovered that in putting on pain
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