THE NATIONAL MUSEUM 411 



paring the facilities for the Exposition, and foreign coun- 

 tries were invited to take part in the exhibition of manu- 

 factures and resources. 



Professor Baird had been urging the Appropriations 

 Committees of the House and Senate to give him the 

 money for a building for the Museum. None of the 

 committee had any idea that the receipts of the Exposi- 

 tion would be such as to pay expenses, much less to return 

 the money "loaned" by Congress. Perhaps the idea that 

 he would cease from troubling may have influenced some 

 of the members, but at any rate he was put off with the 

 promise that though they would do nothing at the time, 

 yet, if the Directors of the Exposition ever returned the 

 loan, he should have money for a building. This promise 

 of course had no legal standing, but the members of these 

 great committees were generally permanent during their 

 continuance as members of Congress, and a recommenda- 

 tion by the committee carried preponderant weight in 

 both House and Senate. Satisfied with this pledge, Baird 

 called together the scientific staff of the Museum, both 

 paid and volunteer workers, and put the matter before 

 them. That the Museum should make such an exhibit 

 as would enlist the sympathies, not only of Congress, but 

 of the millions of American citizens who would visit the 

 Exposition, and bring popular approval to back up his 

 request for a suitable building, was the object aimed at. 

 Every man burned with enthusiasm and hope, and each 

 vowed to himself that nothing on his part should be want- 

 ing to ensure success. For once the labors of the staff, each 

 in his particular line, approximated in energy and perse- 

 verance to those of Professor Baird. Many worked late 

 into the night, daily for months. The result was what had 

 been hoped for. Many visitors averred that the National 



