CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AS AN EDUCATOR 



177 



A Family Group of Skunks. In the Room of Animal Homes.' 



offer such helps and opportunities as the schools and homes can not 

 give. With that, its mission ends, and the success or failure of its 

 work will be proportional to its skill in meeting individual needs. 



About a year ago a small boy was discovered in our building leading 

 his eleven-year-old blind brother by the hand and telling him as much 

 as he could about the objects of especial interest. The eagerness with 

 which this sightless lad drunk in every descriptive sentence led the mu- 

 seum escort to ask him if he had ever " seen " a squirrel — " No," he said, 

 " I never touched one, but I have heard stories about squirrels — they 

 have long, bushy tails and eat nuts." The escort then placing a stuffed 

 squirrel in his hand, gave him one of the happiest experiences of his 

 life. To his book knowledge he could now add a real discovery. Nor 

 did his experience at the museum end with the squirrel; his sense of 

 touch taught him many other stuffed animals and birds, besides living 

 frogs, lizards and turtles. There were other museums in Greater New 

 York, and surely far more costly exhibits, but no museum had hitherto 

 found time to give this blind visitor the especial attention his in- 



Model of a Parlor in a New England Home about 1750. The scene shows an afternoon 

 call from the minister and the family assembled to receive him and serve afternoon tea and 

 cake. The details of furniture, decorations, and costumes are historically accurate. In the 

 History Room. 



