Tour the Smithsonian After its First Fifty Years

Ethnology is the science of the races of man,-man divided into nations. It can be shown in a museum only by models, pictures, clothing and other distinctive external marks of difference in races. This has been attempted here by means of photographs and prints, which will be found in wing-cases; and by casts of faces and busts (see ARCHAELOGY) illustrating racial peculiarities, especially of our redskins. Distinguishing points of races are manifested in their houses, dress and handiwork, so that all other departments of anthropology contribute information.

The two main exhibits in this section are the Costumes that fill the main hall of the Museum and first catch the eye of the visitor as he enters; and the Catlin Paintings.

Two figures procured in Japan by Gen. H. Capron, represent the ancient attire of a shogun, or noble, and his lady; the peculiar attitudes and expression of these lay figures is owing to the fact that their maker designed them to represent actors in a different role from that where they now find themselves. Two other Japanese lay figures (full size and complete in external anatomy throughout) portray a farmer and his wife, with their mattock. The suits of Japanese armor suspended in an adjoining case, were brought home by the famous "Expedition Around the World" of Commodore Perry, as also were many other visible articles of dress and ornament. The large figures representing Chinese apparel were sent to the Centennial Exposition by that government. Several cases of small "figurines" made of clay or of papier mache are noticeable. They were collected in China, Japan and India, where they are made for sale, and accurately copy the costumes worn there in various ranks, castes and occupations. The small Chinese figures in groups display opium-smoking, a party at dinner, a wedding procession, and so on.

The fur clothing of the Eskimos, and the often highly ornamented buckskin dresses of our western Indians, fill other cases, and will serve to correct many wrong notions in regard to the appearance of the redskin in his native condition.

A more complete part of this department is that which displays parts of dress or decoration brought together from all countries. Thus several panels are filled with shoes; others with necklaces, including many savage specimens; a third with shawls, showing the rich "Cashmeres" of the East; a fourth with bracelets; several with head-dresses gathered "from China to Peru," and other articles of wearing apparel or ornament, each of which is descriptively labeled.

The Catlin portraits of Indians and scenes of Indian life on the plains many years ago, cover the walls of the Lecture Room, and are worth close attention. A descriptive catalogue made by the artist, is published separately, so that a circumstantial account here is unnecessary. Catlin writes of his work:

"I devoted eight years of my life (1832-1840) exclusively to the accomplishment of my design, and that with more than expected success. I visited with very great difficulty and some hazard to life, 48 tribes (residing within the United States, British, and Mexican Territories), containing about half a million of souls. I have seen them in their own villages, have carried my canvas and colors the whole way, and painted my portraits, etc., from the life, as they now stand and are seen in the gallery. The collection contains near 600 paintings, 350 of which are Portraits of distinguished men and women of the different tribes, and 250 other Paintings, descriptive of Indian Countries their Villages, Games, and Customs, containing in all above 3,000 figures.

"As this immense collection has been gathered, and every painting has been made from nature, BY MY OWN HAND-and that, too, when I have been paddling my canoe, or leading my pack-horse over and through trackless wilds, at the hazard of my life the world will surely be kind and indulgent enough to receive and estimate them, as they have been intended, as true and fac-similie traces of individual life and historical facts, and forgive me for their present unfinished and unstudied condition as works of art. GEO. CATLIN."

Catlin took this collection to Europe with him about 1840, where the pictures were exhibited, and subsequently were mortgaged to Mr. Joseph Harrison, for about $40,000. Catlin then returned to America and made a second trip into the west. Mr. Harrison, finding the debt was not to be paid, had the pictures shipped to Philadelphia and stored in a warehouse, where it was supposed they soon perished by fire. A short time ago they were discovered intact, and by the widow of their owner were presented to the National Museum. This series is said to be superior artistically to the second set which Catlin made. However this may be, its historical importance cannot be overrated.

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