File:The American Museum journal (c1900-(1918)) (17539315793).jpg

Title: The American Museum journal
Identifier: americanmuseumjo10amer (find matches)
Year: c1900-(1918) (c190s)
Authors: American Museum of Natural History
Subjects: Natural history
Publisher: New York : American Museum of Natural History
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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SKETCH MODEL IN CLAY \^'ork was begun in the summer of 1908. The time represented by the scene is somewhat over a century ago when these IntUans first came in contact with Europeans. The canoe is supposed to ha\e reached the surf of the beach, being kept in position there by the paddlers holding water and the bow and stern men operating the poles while ceremonial speeches and dances are rehearsed. The result of the positions chosen for paddlers and j)olemen is not only an artistic one but gives opportunity for mechanically bracing the boat so that there can be no vibration of the exhibit, the poles being anchored in the floor and the paddles riveted in the cement l)ase supporting the canoe. Mr. Neandross has taken hold of the Museum's problem with unusual insight into the needs of the case, designing an immense composition with sweep and balance in the grouping, yet each figure an accurate stufly of tribe, suited in dress and action to its particular part in the meaning of the whole. The ideal of exhibition in a people's museum must be accuracy and completeness of truth in such combination with beauty, life and action that there is produced a resultant of human interest and educational force. Mr. Neandross has proved in his work as a sculptor before the world that he is on the way to mastery of a combination in art unusual and difficult, that is of realism and idealism. It is this power of the sculptor which is in consideral)le part bringing success to the Museum's giant task. M. c. D. The actual story of the great canoe's journey to New York i=! as follows: It was pad- dled l)y Haida Indians to Victoria: carried by schooner to Port Townsend, Puget Sound; by steamer to San Francisco: by Pacific mail steamer to Panama: across the Isthmus on the Panama Railroad from Panama to Colon, whence it was shipped on the deck of a Pacific mail steamer to New York. In crossing the Isthmus, to avoid in.iury during sharp turns, the canoe was adjusted on two platform ears, being fastened securel.v on the forward car and swinging loosely on greased guys on the rear car. Free transportation from San Francisco to New York was contri))uted by the President of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company.

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