now open, twenty-seven years from the inception of the enter- 
prise.” 
“Twenty-seven years to erect one building. What a long 
time!” . ; 
“Oh, that is not very long. Let us take into consideration 
the construction of Saint Peter’s, in Rome. It required fifty 
years for the erection of the mass of the building, and 150 
years more for the final construction. Twenty-two popes and 
thirteen architects gave their time and effort to this undertak- 
ing. 
BY ou are very wise. How old is this Museum?” 
“It is only a baby; it is just twenty-seven years old. More- 
over, this little addition concerning your question, is not out 
the way. In the lead is the British Museum, founded in 1753; 
and Germany is said to possess the second in rank, while for 
the third place the Field Museum of Natural History and the 
American Museum of Natural History of New York are hav- 
ing a race for the third greatest Museum in the world.” 
tS certainly do answer questions satisfactorily.” 
appreciate your courteous compliment most profoundly, 
assure you.” 
“It required one 
old Field M 
something.” 
Pts: course, you do. Who has said that you do not know any- 
ing? 
“Nobody.” 
_ “You are correct. I have never heard ‘nobody’ say anything 
in my life.” 
“Ha, ha!” 
“Do not lau 
personality,” 
“You have just as much right to give precautions to me as 
I ee the privilege to admonish you.” 
“That i 
. ~fatis true. You did give some advice to me a few minutes 
since. 
year for everything to be moved from the 
useum into this one. You see, Lorenzo, I do know 
gh too loud—I beg pardon for cautioning your 
Lorenzo, is the old Field Museum going to be 
wrecked?” 
“No, no, I should say not! not that architectural masterpiece 
of American art!” 
“Well, then, what is the decision?” 
Bs, the south park commissioners, you mean?” 
e 
“As far as I do know, the decision of the commissioners was 
made public at the meeting of the Chicago Federation of 
Women’s Clubs in the Morrison hotel, April 27, by George W. 
Maher, architect, and chairman 
; . of the Municipal Art and Town 
fianning committee, Illinois chapte 
46 
r American Institute of 
