50G ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



The institute is not a museum, and its purpose is not to accu- 

 mulate collections. But it should have for instruction and for 

 study as complete a series as possible of objects for comparison in 

 the various fields of prehistoric ethnography, anthropology, com- 

 parative anatomy, and the paleontology of the late geological epochs. 

 These series, of the greatest importance to-day, are arranged and 

 classified in three rooms, called rooms for comparative studies, 

 which encircle the first floor, and a large library which is comple- 

 mentary to these, the objects to be studied near the books. The 

 library, which has just been enriched by the fine collection of Emile 

 Cartailhac, is also arranged as a workroom, and several offices on 

 this same floor are reserved for distinguished scientists who wish 

 to visit the institute. 



The material from the excavations, unpacked, sorted, cleaned, and 

 prepared in the basement rooms, photographed on the ground floor, 

 and studied on the second floor, may then form the subject of pub- 

 lished memoirs. The third story contains besides a drafting room, 

 compartments where the publications are stored. These serve to 

 enrich the library of the institute through exchanges. Some copies 

 are sold commercially through MM. Masson et Cie., publishers. 6 



The institute was to have been opened at the end of 1914. The 

 war played havoc with it as with alLother scientific establishments. 

 For six years it was forced to live a stunted life. On December 23, 

 1920, it was officially opened in the presence of M. Millerand, Presi- 

 dent of the French Republic, and many guests, including members 

 of the Government, and of the diplomatic corps, representatives of 

 great scientific establishments, learned societies, the press, etc. 



One year later, on February 18, 1922, the Prince had the pleasure 

 of presiding at the first public lecture, and of verifying the truly 

 popular success of the undertaking he had recently inaugurated. 

 In spite of a state of health which already caused keen anxiety 

 among his friends, he delivered an address in which, as always, 

 originality and richness of form clothed strong and noble thoughts, 

 and of which each phrase bore witness to his respect for and love 

 of science. " You are here," he said, " in a new temple which I 

 have created in order that anthropology, supported by sound laws, 

 can soar one day over the mysteries which surround us. I hope 

 that it may bring to civilization the cooperation of the great forces 

 contained in its bosom, which will purify our customs, our ideas, 



6 The principal publications arc: " Ees Grottes de Grimakli," by MM. do Villeueuve, M. 

 Boule, E. Cartailhac, R. Verneau, 2 vols., quarto, with C4 plates in heliogravure; the 

 series, comprising 5 vols, in quarto, on the " Teintuies et gravures murales des tavernes 

 paleolithiques," with a total of 217 plates in, black and in colors ; " Les anciens Para- 

 gons," by Dr. R. Verneau, 1 vol. in quarto, with 15 plates ; the 13th session of the " Con- 

 gres international d' Anthropologic et d'Archeologie prehistoriques," Monaco, 190G, 2 vols.. 

 octavo ; and a little series of " Rapports anuuels," by the director and the professors. 



