New Britain herald., 1917-10-29
MUSEUM WEEK AT
 INSTITUTE WITH US
Long Awaited Event Opens With
 Excellent Displays

1 So far as can be ascertained, New
 Britain is the first city to have 8 ] Museum Week." The idea of such an event originated with Burling. 1 ham Schurr, curator of the Institute l Museum, and its undertaking will meet with popular approval. Every body who can will visit the Museum l this week. And why should they not go? It is their Museum. Every man ] woman and child has an interest in it. Many have made gifts to it. Many more will donate objects to it. Ii is the proper place-the only place where cherished objects in art, sci ence or of an historical nature can be properly and safely kept. What is there is in the city to remind the people of the response made by Com panies F and I of the c. N. G., to President Wilson's call in 1916 to go to the Mexican border? Although the boys did not go into battle they were ready to fight and lay down their lives for their country. The real re- hinder of the event lies in the col lection of curios and objects at tho museum which the soldiers brought back with them.
 One of New Britain's foremost citi- zeps was Elihu Burritt. In the mu- scum is to be found the best that could be gathered together to exem- plify his greatness.
 General John Paterson, a native of New Britain, was one of the most gal lant soldiers that fought in the Revo- lution. He is to be seen in a splen- did old painting on hprse-ba at the head of his forces. The title of the ,o;a t. ~S>l "A Monmouth" and was painted by the famous artist. Colonel John Trum- bull. It is a stirring scene and shows to perfect advantage in the large up- per hall of the Institute.
 James Shepard, naturalist and writ CT. one of the city's most well-read men, devoted much time for over 40 years to making collection of min erals, which Is rated as among the choicest collections in New England. This collection. as also large and splendidly catalogued collection of shells which was collected by the late c. Antoinette Shepard, daughter of main exhibits.
 To whom does New Britain owe no little debt of gratitude? Philan-
  were the chief characteristics of Cornelius B. Erwin, as the city has good evidence of knowing, and that posterity may become familiar with the features of this one of the Hard ware City's greatest sons. a splendid portrait of him hangs in a conspicu- ous place at the museum.
 Among the finest collections of irI~ 3r Tnrrootj~yYf fe Syo +hn }ocf tution, and they were collected and presented by local ornithologist, Eugene w. Schmidt.
 Works of art-paintings by Amer ican artists whose works hang in the larger and more prominent art nnu- seums of the country, are displayed on the walls of the Talcott Art Room in the museum. It Is matter of pride with those who are versed in art that New Britain has paintings which are on a par with those shown in the best art galleries of the land
 In fact, in all departments, the Museum of Natural History and Art of the New Britain Institute has some of the best things that can be procured. Many are the objects on display and many are the donors. It is a museum such as any city might we'll take pride in. The manner in which 1t is conducted is matter of much favorable comment.
 To the directors and members of the New Britain Institute, the people can be grateful for making it possible for the city to have such splendid museum These representative citi- zens realized that the city needed such an institution and they saw to it that 1t should be had. From the day the museum opened it's doors, young and old have gone there in such numbers as to prove convincingly that the peo- pie appreciate the efforts put forth to give them this place of entertain ment and instruction.
 This week will give the people fur ther opportunity to illustrate their ap proval of the institution by going there in goodly numbers This is Museum Week." the first effort of its kind put forward in this country. Help break all records for attend ance at the Institute Museum by go- ing there this week. Doors are open afternoons from to and in the evening from ' to g.