388 



THE AMERICAN MUISEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



institution. Tlie present vice-presidents arc: On entering the exhibition halls tlie eye is grut- 

 Jamcs M. Constable and D. Jackson Steward; ified by the admirable arrajigements for admittino- 

 the secretary, Albert S. Bickmore ; the treas- light, which bring every object into clear view, 

 urer, J. Pierpont Morgan. The position of There are no dim, shadowy corners, whose con- 

 chairman of the executive committee is also filled tents can be but half discerned ; but every speci- 

 most efficiently by Mr. Constable — a wise adviser men, carefully classified, bears the test of a flood 

 and liberal patron. of light. AVc may walk leisurely through the 

 Indeed, from the beginning of this grand en- halls, and obtain a general view of the whole ; 

 terprise, trustees and officers have all proved but the details are bewildering to the uninitiated 

 themselves indefatigable in their labors, as well visitor who attempts, perhaps, to look at every- 

 as generous in their gifts. A mere glance at the thiny, and finds himself confused because he lias 

 list of names shows that the interests of the niu- attempted tlie imiiossiblo. 



scum are in the hands of prominent, responsible The Jesup collection of woods — a magnificent 



men of New York, whose trustworthy character display of the forest wealtli of North America, 



und ability are universally recognized. filling a large liall — first attracts attention on en- 



Few persons realize 

 that the success Avhicli 

 has attended this in- 

 stitution from the first 

 lias been due, not 

 merely to generous do- 

 nations, but to the 

 careful planning, the 

 wise counsels and the 

 executive ability of 

 those in charge. 



The n a m e s of the 

 present board of trus- 

 tees will be of interest 

 to many of our readers : 

 Morris K. Jesup, Ben- 

 jamin II. Field, Adrian 

 Iselin, J. rierpont jMor- 

 gan, D. Jackson Stew- 

 ard, Joseph 11. Choate, 

 Percy R. Pyne, James 

 M. Constable, William 

 E. Dodge, Andrew II. 

 Green, Abram S. Hew- 

 itt, Charles Lanier, 

 II u g h Auchincloss, 

 Oliver Ilarriman, C. 

 Vanderbilt,D.O. Mills, 



MORRIS K. JESUr, PRESIDENT. 



tering the main build- 

 ing. Believing that 

 t ii e comparative ex- 

 amination of different 

 kinds of woods would 

 be of practical utility 

 to the industrial com- 

 munity, as well as of 

 great scieutific value, 

 ]\I orris K. Jesup begaii 

 this collection many 

 years ago, and has ex- 

 ])emlod upon it not far 

 short of *1 00,000. 



The phui for (uillcct- 

 ing HpL'i'iuR'Us and tlie 

 general aiiiingenieuts 

 wore UKuUi by Charles 

 S. Sargent, Professor 

 of Arljoiieiilture at 

 Harvard University, 

 under whose super- 

 vision the investigation 

 of tlie nature and con- 

 dition of the forests of 

 the United States was 

 made for the tenth 

 census. 



Chas. G. Landon, II. R. Bishop, Albert S. Bick- The trees are represented by large trunk-sec- 

 more, Theodore Roosevelt, Oswald Ottendorfer, tions, so cut as to display the longitudinal and 



J. Hampden Robb, D. Willis James, Levi P. 

 Morton. 



It would be impossible to give by mere descrip- 

 tion any adequate idea of the vast and varied col- 

 lection in this treasure-house. Only by personal 

 examination — not once, but again and again — can 

 one obtain even a superficial knowledge of the 



transverse grain of the M'ood, both in its natural 

 and in a polished state. The specimens are ar- 

 ranged in botanical sequence, in glass cases, where 

 abundant light falls upon them. To each speci- 

 men a card is attached, giving the common and 

 botanical name, and information on certain 

 points of practical value — such as the specific 



mere contents ; and a lifetime of study would gravity, the elasticity, the amount of ash con- 

 only reveal something more to be learned in each tained, etc. Also, on each specimen is a small 

 department. Some special mention, however, of map of North America, so colored as to show at 

 a few specimens, with no attempt at scientific a glance the geographical distribution of that 

 classification or technical description, may be of particular species. Hanging above the cases is a 

 interest, at least to such of our readers as have series of water-colors, painted from nature by 

 not visited the museum. Mrs. Sargent, showing the foliage, flower and 



