The Holly chieftain., 1923-01-04

Nete ulSO IOullu IN lucatan were OLD even 10 ul6
Aztecs.
CorteZ' conquest of Mexico becomes like q
war of yesterday In view of the richly beautiful
objects Of Aztec art In the archaeological collec-
tions in the third story. Here may be what
Is unquestonably the finest specimen Of Aztec
mosaic extant--a shield of cedar inlad with ii.
GOO pieces OF turquoise. The design itself, though
only n foot in diameter, represents the whole
range Of a great art numbered among the lost
crafts This SHE'D evidently carried in
procession of ceremony and according to Profess
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. feature of 1t Is 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 extraor-
dnary fabric from Peru, which probably old
at the time Pizarro subjugated the stronghold Of
the Incas. Unique exhibits from Brazil and Ven
eZueln also view.
In the account Of the voyages OF Columbus there
is description of the carved paddles used by
the natives who came in canoes to greet the first
white men. The museum has paddle, found In
sealed cave in Cuba, which is believed to be of
that period Cuba also contributes mono.
lithc axe, that is an axe all of stone. instead Of
a head with n wooden handle One Of the most
important features Of the institution Is the nu-
merous connecting links which 1t furnishes between
the various cultures ages OF StOne Hint and Iron
which existed here at the time of the discovery
on one hand and the civilization of the present
day on the other.
'sThe trustees of the museum" said Mr. Heye
"wsh to make 1t clear, that the objects which
are assembled here, are Of great practical value
aside the historical and archaeological interest
attaching to them. This Is realized, for instance,
by many manufacturers of textiles, who have been
making use of ideas gained from collections
They have been sending their designers here even
before the museum was officially open and they
inform that they have found the inspiration of
many new designs, which adapted from what
was seen there. We think also that the textile
industry will find data to guide It In dyeing opera
tions. as many of the objects here, centuries old,
were dyed with vegetable colors which to ull ap-
pearances fresh MS they were when first
applied. We believe also, that although modern
machinery has oudstanced the Indian craftsmen
in speed that the industries of the Twentieth CEN
fury will find many hints in the synoptic exhbl-
tions OF basketry. ceramics and carving which we
have installed. In every way the desire to serve
the public is uppcrmost"
The board of the museum consists of Harmon
W. Hendricks, James b. Ford T.. Kingsbury Cur.
tiss, Archer NJ. Huntington, Minor G. Keith Clar-
ence g. Moore, F. X. Seward, and Samuel Riker
Jr Mr.. Heye, also n trustee, Is chairman.
No. | OF the pictures is n portrait of Crow
Chief, Arnpahoe, who is said to be 116 years
of age, No 2 Is the museum. No. is big
wooden feast dish of the Kwakuidl Indians Van
ure from potlatch house of the same Indians
No. is a Hopi doll. No. 6 is Hopi woman weav-
ing baskets. No. shows n slrunken body q
inches long, reduced to Its present size by strange
process used by the Jivaro Indians of Ecuador
after the bones had been removed.