Chapter XLVII

INSIDE THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION—ITS TREASURES OF ART AND
SCIENCE—THE LARGEST COLLECTION IN THE WORLD.

Strange Story of James Smithson—A Good Use of Money—Seeking the
Diffusion of Knowledge—Catching a Tear from a Lady’s
Cheek—Analysis of the Same Tear—A Brief Tract on
Coffee-Making—James Smithson’s Will—Praiseworthy Efforts of
Robert Dale Owen—The Bequest Accepted—The Plan of the
Institution—Its Intent and Object—The Smithsonian
Reservation—The Smithsonian Building—The Museum—Treasures of
Art and Science—The Results of Thirty Government
Expeditions—The Largest Collection in the World—Valuable
Mineral Specimens—All the Vertebrated Animals of North
America—Classified Curiosities—The Smithsonian
Contributions—Its Advantages and Operations—Results—The
Agricultural Bureau—Its Plan and Object—Collecting Valuable
Agricultural Facts—Helping the Purchaser of a Farm—The Expenses
of the Bureau—The Library—Nature-Printing—In the Museum—The
Great California Plank—Vegetable Specimens, 533