56 
THE MUSEUM. 
etc., so that my interest has extended to the entire subject, but mainly to beads, 
arrows and pottery.” 
In another letter, dated several years later, he describes, in his characteristic 
manner, a relic-hunting tour, in these words : “ A few days ago I took a drive down 
the Susquehanna, to the borough of Washington ; saw two boys wading for cray¬ 
fish ; asked ‘ why not hunting arrow-heads ? ’ After some talk, one of them told me 
of various boys and girls who had beads and other relics, and offered to go with me, 
first to a distant barn to see a stone axe the owner wouldn’t sell. Saw two men, each 
with an axe—secured both. I was then guided through the straggling town, the boy 
now and then calling out, ‘Jim,’ (etc.) ‘ here’s a man wants to buy arrow-heads,’ (etc.) 
I penetrated alleys and entered humble houses ; then my small change ran short; was 
told I might replenish at the front street tavern, where my guide told all interested to 
call.” 
The writer well remembers his first visit to Chickis. Arriving in the evening, he 
found the Professor in the midst of unpacking several boxes of Indian manufactures, 
which had just been received from his daughter, Madam Figyelmesy, in Demarara, 
British Guiana. (He was devotedly attached to his children, and his regret at parting 
with his daughter, after one of her visits home, was always philosophically tempered 
by the prospect of receiving other good things from South America.) As each object 
was removed from its packing, the Professor’s enthusiasm broke forth in expressions 
of undisguised delight. After tea, as we all sat talking in the parlor, our host, holding 
in each hand an Indian musical instrument, remarked, in his dry, humorous way, 
“ My wife seems to think that I am in my dotage when I am so pleased with my rattles 
and my whistles; but then, we philosophers must not mind such little things. Suppose 
we leave the ladies with their jimcracks, and go up to the library,” which we accord¬ 
ingly did. The study was situated in the top of the house. On the walls hung 
many curious weapons and Indian accoutrements. Here was a quiver filled with 
poisoned arrows ; there, a Comanche shield and scalp, from Texas; spread over the 
tables and shelves, on the floor and in drawers, were innumerable relics from all 
parts of the globe. A large case of drawers contained his unique and magnificent 
collection of beads, of all ages and nations, and valuable books of reference were 
crammed into cases and on shelves, and piled up on his desk and around the walls of 
the room. It was a veritable curiosity shop, and the Professor never for a moment 
wearied in exhibiting his treasures and in pointing out their striking peculiarities. 
Now he would describe his new method of restoring broken arrow-heads with a 
preparation of wax, colored so naturally as to defy detection ; now he would exhibit 
some improved labels for mounting them ; and finally the subject turned to philology 
and the popular misuse of terms, such as Smithsonian “ Institute ” instead of” Insti¬ 
tution ;” the use of the word “ privilege ” as applied to more than one person, ” as if,” 
the Professor would say, ” two or more persons could share the same privilege, the 
word itself meaning that which can only be enjoyed by one.” Then we repaired to 
the broad grounds which surrounded the house, and examined the immense boulder 
