42 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



able to earnest study. Adequate moral and financial support are assured 

 by the promotion of a general interest in the museum. The open coun- 

 try is accessible for excursions by various scientific societies. Eambles 

 are a delightful means of leading girls and boys to a knowledge of the 

 treasures of nature in the hills and valleys near their homes. Even in 

 the village, much may be done to relieve the monotony of life and to 

 enrich the intellectual interest — so often mean and meager. As an 

 active educational agency the museum should be in close and sympa- 

 thetic touch with the public schools. Visits of teachers with groups of 

 pupils should be encouraged. With people beyond school age, much 

 may be done by lectures, classes and by scientific organizations. Atten- 

 tion should be directed not merely to the strictly scientific features of 

 natural history, but also to the broader aspects and deeper meanings 

 of nature, whence come sympathy, insight and refreshment of spirit. 



As a setting for this work, the museum building should be simple 

 in construction and planned with a view to economical management. 

 Elaborate decoration or architectural effects are not desirable. Money 

 can be expended to better advantage in other ways. Problems of light- 

 ing, construction and arrangement of cases, and the distribution of 

 material call for careful attention. The general color effect and the 

 background for objects are important elements in adding to the at- 

 tractiveness of the collections. Cleanliness, neatness and abundant 

 light are the cardinal virtues of the museum. 



An illustration of the possibilities open to a small museum is 

 afforded by the recent development of the Museum of Natural History, 

 in Springfield, Massachusetts. This institution had its beginning in 

 1859, and was in a measure the result of interest aroused by a meeting 

 of the Association for the Advancement of Science, held in Springfield 

 that year. At the outset, the museum was placed under the control 

 and care of the City Library Association, and this relation has been 

 maintained ever since to the advantage of both institutions. For many 

 5'ears but little was done apart from the gathering of specimens, and 

 dependence was in the main placed on contributions from local col- 

 lectors. The result was a large amount of material, not always cor- 

 rectly classified, and decidedly miscellaneous in character. Better 

 quarters were provided in 1871 in the new library liuilding. and the 

 museum was reorganized and brought into close relationship with 

 the scientific department of the high school. In 1895, a commodious 

 and suitable hall was provided for the collections in the Art Museum. 

 The material was carefully classified and arranged for the first time 

 on a systematic basis. With the new facilities, there came a notable 

 increase in activity; public interest was enlisted and large gifts of 

 specimens and money were made. Class-work, lectures and scientific 

 societies were begun. In a few years the museum had outgrown its 



