CHAPTER XVII.

THE GOVERNMENT BUILDING.

Marvelous collection of exhibits made by "Uncle Sam" — Three thousand models from the patent office —
« Progress of American invention elaborately presented — The Smithsonian display alone a wonderful edu-
cator— Bird and beast mounted amid the same surroundings as in life — Each specimen so labeled that no
observer can make a mistake — A first-class postoffice in operation — Dead letter curiosities — Tarantulas,
horned toads, Human skulls, axes, dolls, molasses candy, stuffed owls, alligators, ostrich eggs, and thous-
ands of other things that never reached their destination — War Department novelties — Great guns and
little ones — Cannons and torpedoes — Historic documents from the Department of Justice — Documents
connected with the Dred Scott Decision— Great exhibit by the Agricultural Department — Horticulture,
pomology and forestry — Special Alaskan exhibit — Quaint, curious and interesting objects of ethnological
research — Peculiarities of many birds and beasts ............ 397

14 CONTENTS.