Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-06-18
CAPITOL HOUSES
UNUSUAL DISPLAY
OF AMER|CAN|Sh
Plda Botanical Garden Showing
Indian Plants in Natural
Habitats.
TO ENCOURAGE
NATIVE PAINTINGS
Exhibit of Indian Life Reputed
to Be the Best Any,
where.

Wu6I0.
The most interesting and instruct
i've exhibit of Indian life may bt
found in the historical museum in the
state capitol. This is the belief not
only of the curator. DR.. Melvin Ii
Gilmore, but also of the many visitors
that thrOng the quarters every day.
There is an increase daily of the
number of guests, which indicates
that the citizens Of Bismarck are dis.
covering this rich spot, but more So
that tourists stopping at the Capital
City are much interested.
Those urging the proposed extern
sion of the museum believe that it
could be made a much greater draw
ing card, and at the same time give
to the people of America such an un-
derstanding of Indian life that they
would feel proud that they live in a
country which gave birth to the rich
mythology, the physical prowess and
the high standards Of Indian ciViliza-
ton.
DR.. Gilmore declares that the AM
crican people do not appreciate what
the Indians have given to the world.
People of other countries have been
quicker to realize the good qualities
of their institutions than Americans,
and have adopted them from the other
countries, not realizing that they had
passed them by when they were the
possession of the Indians alone. An
example of this is the kindergarten
system that revolutionized education.
1t was taken from the Indians By ahe
Germans and then brought back to
the United States. 1t is in this round
about way that many of our most
treasured educational and other insti-
tutions were secured And Dr.. Gil
more suggests that we might profit by
a general adoption Of more Of them
The botanical garden which is plan.
ned for the capitol grounds will show
the beauties OF the plants found and
developed by the Indians and DR.. GIL
more hopes through it to encourage
their use in landscape paintings. he
believes that they would have more
character than the artificial exotic
lCu IL oul IHC oiAu
found from coast to coast.
DR.. Gilmore took up his duties
April 1, coming from Lincoln, Neb,
where he was curator of the state his
torical society of Nebraska. He had
already become we'll known for his
research work in the economic life
of the Indians of the Great Plains.
An article was recently published in
Harper's Magazine based on DR.. Gil
more's research.
Mrs. M. II. Jewell, who is we'll IN,
formed on the early history of North
Dakota and a close friend of many OF
the leading men and women that
made it, is assisting in the work OF
the, state historical society.
"1he curator of the State HistOri-
cal Society is Glad of this opportunity
to talk to the people of Bismarck and
the State of North Dakota about the
work of the museum and the library
of the Historical Society,"" says, Mr..
Gilmore, "for it appears that the insti.
tuition might we'll be better known
than it is at present. AS trustee Of
the state, the historical society has
already accumulated considerable
collection of material pertaining to
the states history from aboriginal
time to the present. Although this
store of valuable and interesting ma
terial is within fifteen minutes walk
from any. one living in Bismarck, yet
no doubt there are many living here
who have never awaited themselves of
the opportunity to become acquainted
with it. Probably many residents of
Bismarck could tell more about mu-
seums and libraries of Chicago, New
York, Boston and Washington than
they could of their own. But you
should hear the expressions of admir-
alton voiced by visitors from other
states and cities at a distance, from
the Atlantic seab0ard and from all
parts of our country.
1.-THE curator has had the pleasure
to hear our state collections praised
by visitors from other states in COM
parison with the collections of their
own states, and as he has himself
seen these other collections he knows
that these comparisons are sincere
and just. Our state does have a SUI
perior collection to represent the alb
original life of this country, and is in
position to keep the lead in this re-
spect, We have good collection of
articles Of the handicrafts of the ma
tive tribes of the region comprised in |
the state of North Dakota.
In this collection of handicraft
articles we have tools used in aborigi-I
nal agriculture, tools used by primi-|
tive artificiers, tools used by women
in their work as tanners, seamstress-I
es, gardeners; tools and materials |
used in their artistic decorative work,
and the toys they made for their chill
dren. Here are utensils and conven-
fences of American Qndian) domestic |
life, garments, articles of personal
toilet articles, perfumes |
and paints, articles used in religious
articles used in Americana
(Indian) athletic games Of both men