Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-30
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

II this column were a sermon-which
1t is not-the text to which attention
would be called today would be found
In Proverbs, xi24: There is that
Scattereth. and yet increaseth: and
there is that withhoIdeth more than is
meet. but it tendeth to poverty"
Nearly century ago, British scien-
tist--a chemist when chemistry was
new-becane embittered against his
own country because his alleged father,
the Duke of Northumberland. refused
to accord him honorable recognition in
society. So the illegitimate son, smart
ing under the wrong. bequeathed to the
United States, rather than to the Brit
ish government, his fortune of $540, 900.
TO be devoted to the founding OF a
scientific institution and museum. That
benefactOr was James Snlithson-nee
Macies, II taking his mothers name.
which he repudiated when he adopted
the pseudonym "Smithson."
y \
The Smithsonian Institution was
established in Washington upon that
foundation, but after the fund had
come into our full possession. It re-
manned at interest at 6 per cent, for
eight years, before the building was
begun in 184T, so that the accrued in
tereSt would cover the entire cost of
construction. Even then, the conStruc-
ton was spread over six years. so as TO
leave the capital intact, and the build
ing was not completed until 1883 That
castlelike edifice of red sandstone, still
the headquarters of the Smithsonian
Institution, cost 1925, 900, but cost our
Government not cent--which was the
only feature then appreciated by
Congress.
Within five years after It's completion,
1t was overcrowded with the natural
history. geological and art exhibits
poured In by American scientists. artists
and consuls. The new West was being
opened. and scientists accompanied the
exploring parties, searching evidences
of pre-Indian occupation. and other
interesting specimens. Our consuls
throughout the world were instructed
by the State Department to seek what
ever would be of interest to science and
TO the general public, So. almost be-
fore the occupants of the new building
could become settled, 1t proved its in
adequacy. But that did not worry
Congress. Possibly some other dis
grlIntled foreigner would bequeath
another donation. Why should Congress
appropriate money for show Of bones
and stones and stuffed birds and
animals?
When the end OF the first century
of American independence approached.
It was proposed to hold Centennial
Exposition in Philadelphia. An APP
preparation of less than $4,000 was
made to cover q Smithsonian Institu-
ton exhibit. and the showing made
was such an astonishing demonstration
OF the work Of the scientists that 1t
received gold medal-plus the
awakened interest of Congress. After
the close of the Centennial Exposition,
most of the foreign governmental exc
hibits were donated to the United
States and that meant that they must
be received and cared for by the Gov
ernment-oWned Smithsonian Institu-
ton. So Congress was obliged to au~
thOrize the erection OF another building
ugly, but cheap. That cost only 8
cents a cubic foot to construct
$24O, 900
And for many years that, too. has
overrun Its capacity.
At last, public sentiment demanded
that Congress recognize the Importance
of expanding the work OF the museum,
so In 1912 the New Museum was opened
at a cost OF 1891 900. But for years
It's cellars and storehouses have been
bursting with valuable collections which
1t Is unable to display In any OF the
three buildings-art, natural history,
war relics, mechanics. textiles, etc.
Now let us return 10 our text. Each
year the Smithsonian Institution sends
10 foreign museums publications and
duplicate specimens of scientific inter-
est, worth not less than 81 10000 and
receives in exchange from the world
other specimens and other publications
Of equal or superior value. There IL
that scattereth and yet tnereaseth."
but that il only half Of the story.
Up 10 1920, the gifts OF art alone aver
aged more than 100000 year. some
years a million, hut then IL began TO
be noted by art lovers that the gifts
vera necessarily stored In vaults. for