CHAPTER XVII 



THE PRESENTATION OF THE DIPLODOCUS 



" Crowned heads of Europe 



All make a royal fuss 

 Over Uncle Andy 



And his old diplodocus." College Song. 



THE work of setting up the replica in the Museum 

 went forward from week to week quietly and 

 steadily. It is not altogether an easy task to assemble 

 such a specimen, and get everything into place without 

 breakage. It requires as much knowledge and expert- 

 ness as would be called for in setting up a large and very 

 complicated machine. There are tricks in all trades' 

 and the trade of making and installing dinosaurs eighty 

 and more feet in length is one which at the present time 

 is known and understood thoroughly by only three 

 persons, two of whom are the writer and his assistant, 

 Mr. Coggeshall, both of whom have had more experi- 

 ence in this novel kind of work than it has fallen to any 

 other mortals to acquire. The task not only has its 

 difficulties, but also its dangers. The replica, although 

 not nearly as heavy as the original, weighs several 

 tons. The first thing which must be undertaken is to 

 erect a strong scaffolding, and to provide in its upper 

 part a support capable of carrying a heavy weight. 

 Directly under this the central platform or base is 

 placed. The top of this base dare not be put into 



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