REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1914. 91 
Prof. Spencer F. Baird, the director of the affairs of the National 
Museum during the first 37 years of its existence. Among them were 
the instruments used by Prof. Baird in his research work, including 
microscopes, a spectroscope, various types of magnifying lenses, and 
other articles of the same general character; the decoration of the 
Order of St. Olaf conferred upon Prof. Baird by the King of Sweden 
and Norway in recognition of his services to science; and a table 
napkin used by Napoleon I during his banishment to Elba, a gift to 
Prof. Baird by an American friend of the then exile. By the will 
of the late Homer N. Lockwood, of Washington, the Museum received 
a unique and valuable collection of 152 walking canes, gathered from 
nearly all parts of the world and including much of particular inter- 
est both historically and as to workmanship. Mention may specially 
be made of a gold-mounted cane presented to Grover Cleveland by 
the Swiss Helvetia Society, of Elgin, Ill.; an ivory-headed cane given 
to William H. Seward on his visit to Alaska in 1869; and a silver- 
mounted cane belonging to Capt. (Rear Admiral) Charles D. Sigs- 
bee, United States Navy, while in command of the U. S. battleship 
Maine. The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America 
made a number of additions to its already large and interesting col- 
lection deposited in the Museum. 
The collection of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, and postal 
cards was increased by deposits from the Post Office Department to 
the extent of about 10,000 pieces, comprising all recent issues by the 
countries in the Universal Postal Union. The coin and medal col- 
lection also received many valuable additions; and the bequest of Miss 
Lucy H. Baird included about 400 photographs of scientific men, 
which were incorporated in the portrait collection. 
The offices of the division, formerly occupying two small rooms 
at one side of the north entrance, were moved to more commodious 
quarters in the west tower, where the work called for in the various 
sections can more satisfactorily be carried on. The collections are 
reported in good condition, though in some directions their safety is 
difficult to maintain owing to the quantity of material, especially of 
fabrics, subject to the attack of insect pests. 
An important task begun near the close of the year was the 
renovation and placing in what is intended to be a permanent state 
of preservation of “The Star-Spangled Banner” of Fort McHenry, 
lent to the Museum some seven years ago, and last year made an 
absolute gift by its owner, Col. Eben Appleton, of New York. When 
writing the story of this flag, Rear Admiral George Henry Preble, 
_who had it in his possession for a short time, caused it to be mounted 
on a piece of rather heavy canvas, to which it was only partly at- 
tached. This light and much frayed piece of bunting is now being 
fastened to a backing of Irish linen in the same manner as were the 
