Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-27
BY GEORGE III. DACY.

tract and hold public attention, and
In the space of couple of cigar puHs
Put across their important messages.
That is the conclusion which Uncle
Sam latterly has reached as result
of the outstanding efficiency of his
novel office of exhibits of the Federal
Department of Agriculture. whose
scientific demonstrations annually are
Introducing hundreds of thousands OF
farmers to new and better methods
of performing old tasks or of conquer
Ing complicated riddles.
There are workshops where skilled
artisans and artists make models,
Hfelike exhibits, remarkable mechan-
iCal devices, massive panels which
carry EARNINGS most approved mes
Sa ges in picture and pantomlme, and
other original displays which have
won plaudits from commences best
advertisers and which are intro
ductory of agriculture's newest as
sistant - the sight of eye exhibit
which is concentrating reformation
In undesirable farming practices.
Neighboring the National Museum
stands temporary building +, opposite
Center Market. 1t houses in one of its
far-reaching wings the Office of EN-
hibts, occupying two floors. The
scientific and mechanical staff is not
lsrge-only 35 employes-but what
this little body lacks in numerical
strength it counterbalances in the
effectiveness of its activities and the
countrywide scope of its accomplish
ments. ]. w. Hiscox, an enthusiastic
believer in visual instruction and edu
cation, is director this project. one of
Nashington's most efficient national
enterprises.
The Office of Exhibits is acclaimed
from Sacramento to Boston. from Min.
Desota to Mississippi for the effective
ness of its achievements. 1t takes
RgriCulture's latest findings to every
State and interstate fair, National
dairy and live stock shows. asricul-
tural college short courses and con-
crosses, and to domestic and foreign
eXpositions, and presents the informa-
ton in attractive. condensed form-in
q form which the evermoving crowds
of sight-seers can translate and fix in
their memories in a few minutes.
Here indeed, is EARNINGS greatest
travelling show out on its far-f1ung
circuit, spreading sciences lessons in
form that attracts and sticks-and
brings results.
DURING the late Summer and Fall
of 1925 16 carloads of eduCa-
ticnal exhibits, designed and made
right here in our National Capital.
have been speeding about these United
States. where they have been modified
rs educational centers at more than
90 leading State, interstate and Nation
al eXpositions. Not one night stands,
but one week to 10 days showing in
large cities. Farmers and their
families who use agricultural bulletins
as finder for fires, and who have
never reacted favorably to the pleas
of EARNINGS press. rub their eyes
second time and say to each other,
Who would have thought it?" as
they study the National exhibits. The
germ of new ideas Is planted in their
minds by Uncle Sans scientific show;
a germ which pagates-more likely
than not-into the acceptance and util-
ization of the new doctrines in the
years that follow.
Doubling Thomases come in num-
bers to find flaws and identify faults.
And, usually, they remain to grow
enthusiastic. The human eyes may
we'll be called our educational ante
rooms. Convince the eyes and you
have made a success of your MESA sc,
be it the attractive layout of a new
suburb. the beautiful lines of a model
motor car, or the efficacy of an i'm
proved system of baking. Our aSricul-
tural experts are now capitalizing the
importance of eyesight as an educator.
The results are gratifying and indorse
the employment of scientific EARNINGS
latest teacher.
The National exhibits are substan-
tial. durable and adapted for had use
and long journeys. They are light in
weight being made principally of COM
position board. although metal. cloth
and wood are also utilized in their con
truction as needed. Many of these
exhibits feature the dovetailins to-
Gether of hinged panels which fold
back on each other in such a way
that "A large model can be packed
snuely in a small shipping case. Some
Of the larger exhibits weigh $50 to
1000 pounds apiece. All of them are
made for longevity's service They
will travel about. many thousand
miles. cross and criss-c-uSS the coun-
try. and will visit dozens and dozens
of important eXpositions before they
are finally returned to Washington for
repair and renovation.
over at Alexandria is a Ia~ge ware
house, the centraliZing depot for the
touring exhibits. \ force of nine
workmen repairs and cares for the ex-
hibits as they are delivered from Kali
amazoo. keokuk, kokomo or Column
bus.
The scope of the travelling show
equipment is apparent when you uli-
derstand that the AIeNand~ia ware
house is 200 by 30 feet in door Glmen-
sion-and the storage space is pretty
well occupied most of the time.
s. x
TN the mechanical shops of the De-
partment of Agriculture the new
exhibits first see the light of day
Experts draw the designs and expert
enced mechanics make the models
Not infrequently. a sample model OF
cardboard is made first of all, to in
sure the fundamental value of the
proposed exhibit to serve the intended
purpose. Then the finished model il
begun. The composition-board frame
with its few or many hinged panels is
made. The frame when completed is
removed to Building +. where the
painters, artists and experts put on
the finishing touches which transform
the hinged billboard-if such it may
he called-into a spectacular object
of beauty or demonstration which will
cause YOU to stop. stare and scruti-
niZe its story and object lesson.
Yes, there are prediCaments which
arise once in SO often in exhibit prepa-
ration, as in all other human en-
deavors. For example, the experts
needed small surfaces of artificial grass;
recently to place in the foreground
of an exhibit in which a steer was
supposed TO be grazing and converting
grass into beefSteakS. Hunt though
they would, Uncle Sans representa-
tives could not find satisfactory man.
made grass samples for such use.
Strange to tell, by the merest chance,
they finally found the object of their
quest-where do you think?-in an
undertaking establishment The arti-
fetal grass mats which the undertaken