, 1923-01-04

were ulSO IOunQ IN 1uCutHn, were old even to the
Aztecs.
Cortez' conquest of Mexico becomes like a
war of yesterday In view of the richly beautiful
objects of Aztec art In the archaeological colec-
lions In the third story. Here may be seen what
Is unquestiOnably the finest specimen Of Aztec
mosaic eXtant-a shield Of cedar inlnid with a.
600 pieces of turquoise. The design itself, though
only a foot in diameter, represents the whole
range of n great art numbered among the lost
crafts. This SHE'D was evidently carried In a
procession Of ceremony and, according to Profes.
sor Marshall II. Saville, of the museum, was EN-
ployed IN the worship of the planet Venus.
Ecuador of the ancient days is made to live again
in the most representative collection OF the kind
In the world. A feature of 1t Is a score or so OF
ancient ceremonial seats OF stone, not unlike those
used by the Greeks and Romans of the classic
period.
South America is also represented by an extraor-
binary fabric from Peru, which was probably old
at the time Pizarro subIugated the stronghold, of
the Incas. Unique exhibits from Brazil and Ven
ezuela are also on view.
In the account Of the voyages of Columbus there
Is a description of the carved paddles used by
the natives who came in canoes to greet the first
white men. The museum has n paddle, found in
n sealed cave In Cuba, which Is believed to be of
that period. Cuba also contributes n rare mono
lithic axe, that is an axe all Of stone, instead OF
n head with n wooden handle. One OF the most
important features Of the institution Is the MI.
merous connecting links which II furnishes between
tne various tulluTeSt ayes VI SUM- llIl hlu
which existed here ut the time of the discovery
on one hand and the civilization Of the present
day on the other.
'The trustees of the museum" said Mr.. Heye,
"wlsh to make it clear, that the objects which
are assembled here, are of great practical value,
inside from the historical and archaeological interest
attaching to them. This Is renlized. for instance,
hy many manufacturers Of textiles, who have been
making use Of Ideas gained from our collections.
They hive been sending their designers here even
before the museum was officially open and they
inform us that they have found the inspiration OF
many new designs, which we're adapted from what
was seen there. We think also, that the textile
Industry will find data to guide II in dyeing opera
lions, as many Of the objects here, centuries old,
were dyed with vegetable colors which to all ap.
penrances nre as fresh MS they were when first
applied. We believe also, that although modern
machinery has outdlstanced the Indian craftsmen
I'm speed, that the industries OF the Twentieth CEN
tury Will find many hints In the synoptic exhibit
lions OF b~asketry, ceramics and carving which we
have Installed. In every way the desire to serve
the public Is uppermOst"
The bonrd of the museum consists OF Harmon
w. Hendricks. James Il. Ford. +. Kingsbury Cur.
tiss, Archer NJ. Huntington, Minor O.. Keith, Clnr.
ence h. Moore, F. X. Seward, md Samuel Riker.
Jr. Mr.. Heye, also n trustee, Is chairman.
No. 1 OF the pictures Is a new portrait NJ Crow
Chief, an Arnpnhoe, who is said to he 116 years
Of age. No. . Is the museum. No. 3 Is n big
wooden fenst dish Of the Kwakuidl indians, Van
couver Island, II. G.. No. 4 Is n large wooden fig
ure from a potlatch house OF the same Indians.
No. s Is n Hopi doll. No. @ is n Hopl woman weay.
Ing baskets. No. Z shows a shrunken body 27
inches long. reduced to Its present size by a strange
process used by the Jlvaro Indians OF Ecuador.
after the bones had been removed.