ANTHROPOLOGY AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION IN 1889. 



Bv Thomas Wilson. 



At the Exposition of 1S67 in Paris there was little or no attempt to 

 represent the science of anthropology. At the Exposition of 1878, 

 however, an effort was made. M. Gabriel de Mortillet was director and 

 the preparation of the display was given into his charge. A modest 

 building was erected in the garden of the Trocadero Palace which was 

 called the buildiug of anthropology. The minister of commerce and 

 agriculture took up the matter and lent his aid and confidence, and a 

 creditable display was made. It was small, but quite complete and 

 made a fair presentation of prehistoric anthropology. The societies 

 and amateur collectors throughout France responded nobly to his ap- 

 peal. I remember the elegant display made by Mr. Seidler, of the city 

 of Nantes, who transferred his entire Scandinavian collection to Paris 

 for use in this exposition. 



But it was reserved for the Exposition Universelle of 1889 to make 

 the grand display in regard to anthropology and its kindred scienees. 

 Three exhibits were made. They were not the same, and one tended 

 largely to supplement the other, makiug them, when taken in connec- 

 tion, a most elaborate, wonderful, and complete display. 



The most extensive of the three was that under the direction of the 

 minister of agriculture and commerce, and which formed section 1 of 

 the l'Histoire Retrospectif du Travail. This hadDrs. Topinard, Hamy, 

 and M. Cartailhac for its directors and managers. The adjoining dis- 

 play was under the supervision of the minister of public instruction, 

 and it had for its director the Societe d'Anthropologie of Paris. The 

 third was section 5 of the exposition Retrospective du Travail, consisting 

 solely of prehistoric weapous, and was associated with the exhibit of 

 arms in the building of the department of war on the Champ de Mars. 



The French people or Government in all former expositions had made 

 a principal feature of the display called The History of Retrospective 

 Labor (l'Histoire Retrospectif du Travail). The Exposition of 1889 was 

 not to be an exception. The grand commission superior of organiza- 

 tion had Jules Simon, senateur, a member of the academy, for its presi- 

 dent, aud twenty-five members which divided the display into five sec- 

 tions. (1) Anthropology and Ethnography ; (2) Liberal Arts 5 (3) Art 



641 

 H. Mis. 129, pt. 2 41 



