III. 



The La Plata Museum. 



As many of our readers are probably aware, when the city of 

 Buenos Aires was made the capital of the Argentine Repubhc 

 in the year 1880, it was at the same time considered advisable that 

 the province of this name should have a capital of its own. Accor- 

 dingly, two years later, the city of La Plata was founded on a site 

 some thirty-five miles lower down the river than the metropolis, and 

 inaugurated as the provincial capital of Buenos Aires. One 

 of the reasons for selecting a site so near to the metropolis appears 

 to have been the necessity of having a port where vessels of the 

 largest tonnage could come alongside the wharves ; and one of the 

 first proceedings was to construct a magnificent ship-canal from the 

 river, terminating at a spot known as the Ensenada, within easy 

 distance of the centre of the new city, and provided with accommo- 

 dation for ocean steamers of almost any dimensions. With charac- 

 teristic Transatlantic energy, the planning and building of the future 

 capital was pushed on apace ; and there soon arose on the site of 

 what had recently been a mere estancia, or cattle-farm, a city of lordly 

 palaces and stately squares, which has been not inaptly designated 

 the " enchanted city." While the " boom " which at that time was at 

 its zenith in Argentina lasted, La Plata bid fair to become a rival of 

 the metropolis, and population and building vied with each other in 

 trying to get ahead. Unfortunately, these rosy prospects were but 

 short-lived, and at the present time the princely palaces and broad 

 boulevards of the " enchanted city " are, except during the sittings 

 of the Provincial Parliament, v/ell-nigh deserted ; and instead of 

 resounding with the rattle of carriages and the tramp of thronging 

 multitudes, the paved streets are silent, deserted, and grass-grown. 



Whether this state of comparative desertion and stagnation is 

 likely to be permanent, or whether it is but the chrysalis-stage pre- 

 paratory to the advent of a period of prosperity and progress, it 

 behoves us not to enquire in these pages. There is, however, within 

 the limits of La Plata, a noble building which must for ever render 

 celebrated the name of that city throughout the length and breadth 

 of the scientific world. This building, I need hardly say, is the 

 Museum, which owes its foundation and present prosperity solely to 

 the indomitable energy and perseverance of its able and accomplished 

 Director, Dr. F. P. Moreno. 



