The Glenwood post., 1924-04-03
UacIe Tets Bed Time SforieS
Current Events for the Childfsc
and arown-ups, Too
JACK LEARNS SOMETHING
ABOUT REsEARCH1NC

Great excitement held forth upon
the return of Ruth, Jack and Uncle
Ted from an "exploring" expedition
along the river front, out where the
trees and bushes, and ground had
melted off their coat of white for
three days. The reason for the trip
was a request from school for speci-
mems of odd sorts of wood so that each
pupil might learn the different kinds
at sight.
But Jack was not content with look
ing for different kinds of trees in
order to obtain specimen. He want
ed to find something really different.
Uncle Ted had laughed at him when
he said he was going to find the bones
of an ancient race. He had been read
ing "The Discoveries of the Rugby
Boys'' and what wierd things they
had found.
''Just the same I can look" was
Jack g reply to the laughter which
greeted his suggestion.
"Sure you can," Uncle Ted had re-
Piled $50 to it,"
And sure enough Jack had found
very queer sort of skull. 1t was not
the shape of any human head, nor was
it the shape of any animal Uncle Ted
had ever seen. Now they were all
gathered in Uncle Ted's den after
supper examining the great discovery
'You will probably become fa-
NOUS" said Uncle Ted, "and have
your discovery resting in the great
Smithsonian Institution at Washington
along with the trophies and specimens
brought back from South Africa by
Theodore Roosevelt. I think I'll tell
you a story about that institution. 1t
is really one of the most interesting
branches of the miscellaneous divisions
of our government This institution
which includes the National Museum,
occupies three buildings situated upon
what is known as the Smithsonian
grounds. 1t is one of the greatest of
the learned institutions of the world
and was made possible through the
generosity of an Englishman, who, in
1929 gave all of his property 'to the
United States of America to be found
ed at Washington, under the name of
the Smithsonian Institution, an estab-
lishment for the increase and diffusion
of knowledge among men, Congress
established the organization in 1s46
and the original fund of $515,00O has
grown now to something, I believe,
over a million dollars"
''What is this institution for?"
asked Jack.
''In simple language, Jack, the
helps all kinds OF investigation in the
various branches of science and it also
carries son special research trips and
explorations in all parts of the world.
You, Jack, will remember reading
about the late President Roosevelt s
trip to South Africa which was known
as the Smithsonian African expedi-
ton. Theodore Roosevelt was in
charge of that expedition when many
wonderful animal and bird specimens
were obtained, all of which are now
in the big building at Washington,
forming one of the most interesting
exhibits there.
"At the head of the institution is
DIR. Charles D. Walcott, who is given
the title of secretary. His immediate
executive force consists of an assist
ant secretary, chief clerk, an ac-
counting and disbursing agent and
editor, who has charge of the various
interesting reports and books lssued
The president of the United States,
by law, is the titular head and the
work and organization is run by what
is called board of regents headed
by Chancellor William II. Taft, chief
Justice of the United States supreme
court.
"In addition to the National Muse
um which, / explained before, comes
under the direction of this institution
there are many bureaus also under its
direction, including the National Gal
lery of Art, the Freer Gallery of Art
the most recent one to be opened tc
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