Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-09-08

In another place, one could study
and observe silk production from the
time the mother moth lays the egg TO
the Matching Of the larva or worm,
the enclosing Of the worm in the CO.
| coon on up TO the finest finished fab
ric. The guard in this department
took us around to see silk made from
wood, also a piece Of the wood. This
product is called fiber silk. Not far
from this was a large lump Of coal
/ lying upon a frame with stairstep like
shelves coming down from the four
sides. On these shelves We're sixty
or seventy bottles with labels on them.
These were samples Of the different
/ by-products made from coal. On an
other frame were fifty or sixty larger
bottles showing various colors Of an
alne dyes from coal. Then the guard
took Us over to a stand with an in
closed case on top. In this were about
forty bottles of perfume, labeled Rose,
violet, crabapple, etc. These he said
are all made from ordinary bitumin-
Gus coal. There was a small opening
from which one could get the sweet
est fragrance.
In the old National Museum are
many things of interest to the student.
I'm one section are many inclosed glass
cases about seven feet high and from
four to five feet square This please
TO call the evolution of the Presidents
I IL II,
or more life size wax figures, clothed
with a dress worn on some formal
occasion, by each of the Presidents
wives, beginning with Martha Wash
ington and ending with Pres. Wilson's
two wives. Though / am just a man,
l must say that these dresses we're
very interesting to me. 1t is both
amusing and one might say satisfy
ing, TO stand near the case containing
the last two figures, and see the faces
Of people, as they approach, and hear
the expressions of contempt as they
viwe the dress Of Mrs. Wilson No. 2.
spoke Of it 10 the guard and he said,
yes, that sentiment is often ex-
pressed by sight-seers, especially by
the ladies'"
Another object of great interest in
this building is a large flag about 35
feet long enclosed in a glass case. 1t
is partly rolled up sideways so that
only five or six stripes can be SEEN
Attached to it is the following in
scription, Garrison flag Of Fort Me
Henry, Baltimore, Md, during the
bombardment Of the fort by the Brit
ish, Sept. 10, II, 1914, and success
fully defended by Col. Geo. Armistead
and the brave men under him. Francis
Scott Key, detained with the British
fleet, had eagerly watched for this
flag during the night and as he saw
it waving over the fort on the morn
ing Of September IA, he was inspired
to write the Star Spangled Banner.
The Paul Jones Starry Banner of
the Bon Homme Richard, 1919, was
also there.
On the afternoon Of June 24, we
went TO Mt Vernon, via the old his
toric Potomac. There is so much of
interest along this wide river. 1t
seemed sacred TO me as we went about
the grounds and through the old home
Of the Father Of his Country" AS /
stood before his tomb with uncovered
head, peering through the iron graf
ms at the two white marble sarconagi
that held the dust of this great man
and his noble wife, my heart bounded
with patriotic fervor as | thought Of
thc privilege 10 stand on this almost
hallowed spot The Mansion House
Of Mt Vernon occupies a beautiful
site overlooking the Potomac. 1t is Of
wood, cut and painted to resemble
stone. 1t is 80 by sc feet, has two
stories and an attic with dormer win
dows. To tell much Of this interesting
building would require too much
space. The three rooms that attract
cd Us most were Washingtons bed
room with the bed upon which he
died, Martha Washington's bedroom
and the bed upon which she died, and
the Lafayette room which was occu-
pied by the great French patriot and
lover Of liberty.
The kitchen is connected to the main
building by a corridor In this are
many quaint utensils used in Colonial
times. The crane still hangs in the
fireplace and the brick oven is well
preserved. Here one may buy milk,
photographs, books and a copy of