Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-08

Today's opening will be the first step
in an experiment to see how the pub
lie regards the great collection which
the explorers and scientists of the
Smithsonian Institution have gathered
In half a century Of research. II this
afternoon should be rainy. then the
trial will not be a fair one II IL
should be clear. 1t is probable that
many persons who have never been in
side OF the building before will seek
the north door to this house Of treas.
ures.
For years the officials OF the museum
have known 1T would be a splendid
educational advantage to the people
of Washington IL the museum could be
opened Sundays. but appropriations
have not allowed the extra hours OF
labor or the extra light and heat.
| Speaking OF the matter yesterday,
Richard Rathbun. assistant secretary
| Of the Smithsonian Institution. said: /:
| This is an experiment. Of course
| and we are watching 1t carefully. We
believe it will be q fine thing. and II
1t turns out well the next step will
IT.
however. is something for the future.
| and not the very near future either"
No Roosevelt Collection.
1t is probable that many Sunday visitors
will ask for the Roosevelt collection of
stuffed skins Of the animals killed by the
former President in Africa The officials
of the museum desire to assure the public
there is no Roosevelt collection, and never
will be one. and that there never has beeu
any intention of having one. Repeating
this statement that has been previously
made. may save the guards. watchmen,
curators and other attendants from an
attack Of nervous prostration. for they
declare that none Of them ever walk the
length of the building without being he'd
up at least once by some visitor. who
wants to know where the Roosevelt col
lection can be found. .
Progress is being made in mounting a
number of the Roosevelt specimens. and
as they are ready for exhibition they will
be displayed. 1t will take several years
yet to mount even the specimens that will
be put on exhibition AS they are ready
they will be displayed in their appropriate
families, but there will be no grouping In
a special Roosevelt display.
The nearest approach to a Roosevelt
collection that has been made is a case
about the size Of a roll-top desk in one
corner Of the old National Museum
building. This contains some dozen
skins all mounted. from the hide OF a
lion to a moleskin ready for mount
ing. The case is labeled in large let
ters, some Specimens from the Smith
sonian African Expedition under the
direction Of Col Theodore Roosevelt"
These skins merely illustrate the way
that some of the specimens are pre-
pared in the field for transmission to
the museum AS has been said. there
are about dozen OF them. The total
of the collection made by this expedi-
ton was about 4,200 specimens with
the addition of about 1000 photo
graphs.
Rare and Valuable Specimens.
There are a great many rare and val
liable specimens from this expedition,
many Of which are being mounted as
speedily as funds and care will permit.
The work on the big mammals is the
thing OF most interest to the public. and
this is being done largely under the die
rection of George B. Turner. the man.
mai taxidermist. The group nearest
the new museum building and will be
ready for exhibition has been sent to
consists Of q group OF 1--WE lions killed
by the Roosevelt expedition. They are
around a characteristic water hole, with
the pad marks In the mud at the edge
Of the pool, and the scanty vegetation
of the region in the background. The
male lion Is on q knoll a little higher
than the others and standing guard in
case of danger. There Is q noness
crouched drinking at the edge Of the
pool like a great cat tapping from q
saucer, and another noness is stretched
on the ground, with couple Of cubs
making passes at each other over her
back.
This group has been two years in prepa-
ration and the attitudes were the subject
of a modelled group that was changed
Of the board Of regents. the curators and
the other experts. There IL now mount
ed and ready for display q big cheetah or
hunting leopard Of North Africa. This
has the head, body and fur OF q cat and
the tawney hide and black spots OF q
leopard but It has long legs like q grey
hound and il one Of the few members Of
the cat family that can run except for q
short sprint.
There has Just been finished and added
to the specimens ready for display
little mountain goat. chamois or antelope
that was found by the expedition 1t is
called q '.clif springer" It Is about the
size ana shape OF Q small pointer dog
sitting on its hind legs. but its popularity
~ the highly specialized >ane1se