twenty-three marble steps, about two feet wide. 
We now enter. On the west side of the entrance is a place 
for checking canes, umbrellas and parcels; a fee of five cents is 
charged for this service. Information concerning the Museum 
and its activities may be obtained here; guides, photographs, 
and picture post cards are sold here. On the east side of the 
entrance is another place that is similar to the one on the west 
side where scientific and artistic publications may be procured. 
Facing these two places, in the center of the nave of the build- 
ing, there is another place where photographs and picture post 
cards may be bought. In this main entrance, on the east 
side, a public telephone may be found. Opposite the telephone 
is a small, magnificently decorated room of privacy. ore- 
over, the sculptural decoration of the main hall, dedicated to 
Stanley Field, the president of the institution, includes four 
figures designed by Henry Hering. These figures symbolize 
the aims and purposes of the Museum and suggest the various 
activities inspired within its walls. The figures flanking the 
north archway represent Natural Science and the Dissemina- 
tion of Knowledge while those at the south archway typify 
Research and Record. Hence, in this structure, the architects, 
Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, have given to the city 
of Chicago and the country, a masterpiece of monumental 
building having distinction and dignity commensurate with its 
purpose and origin. 
_ We will not witness the opening of this magnificent build- 
ing to the general public. It is May 3, 1921; standing here 
and there amid the furious wind that is coming from the sub- 
lime lake, men, women and children, composing a body of 
about five hundred human beings, the philosophical person- 
ages of Chicago, their eager souls being animated with the 
joy of knowledge, and their eyes of keen observation awaiting 
the opening of the massive Museum doors, here they are stand- 
ing, while suddenly an enthusiastic person takes a watch from 
his pocket, and exclaims in a state of intellectual beatitude: 
: “It is ten o’clock! ten o’clock! The doors are now open- 
ne turrah! Hurrah! Bravo! Bravo!” comes from the various 
directions of the enlivened crowd. 
“Get off my feet! my feet! my feet!” ejaculates a youth of 
about eighteen. 
“Hush! you impudent young fellow; let us have silence, for 
we are not savages entering a civilized structure,” says an 
elderly man. 
Amid the crowd that is delivering hurrahs, bravos, different 
kinds of benedictions, and other exclamations of various kinds, 
amid this spirited body falls a beautiful young woman upon the 
marble steps, and I go to her rescue, put her upon her feet, and 
32 
