Ixx Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Lords. 



on this occasion the greetings and congratulations of an In- 

 stitution which is somewhat younger than your own, but which 

 I trust is no less earnest in its purpose and high in its ideals. 

 The motto of Missouri in the vulgar world outside being sup- 

 posed to be "You will have to show me," it seems quite 

 fitting that the leading city of the State should have founded 

 amons its earliest institutions one for the discoverv and 

 demonstration of truth, and also fitting that a city whose 

 motto is "I will" should somewhat supersede the older city 

 in the establishment of a great Museum. We are verv glad 

 to join with you in honoring the men who in earlier years 

 founded this Academy, for they are names of men like Shu- 

 mard. Swallow, and Broadhead, who have done work that 

 will last, and the importance of whose work even yet we 

 probably do not fully appreciate. But I was asked on this 

 occasion to say a word regarding the Museum and the Public. 



In recalling an experience of fifteen years in acting as 

 mediator between the Museum and the Public, numerous in- 

 cidents have shown me that the Public does not alwa3^s under- 

 stand what the Museum is trying to do. For instance, I 

 remember a gentleman who after wandering disconsolatelv 

 about the Museum for the space of half an hour, approached 

 one of the guards and said in a despairing tone, " When 

 does the performance commence? " I also remember a six- 

 year old boy who came with his sister to the hall of ancient 

 skeletons and was so frightened by their appearance that he 

 did not dare to go farther until his sister, telling him to shut 

 his eyes and hold her hand, assured him that she wouldn't 

 let the exhibits hurt him. I remember also a teacher who, 

 having been informed that she could gain great benefit by 

 visiting the Museum with her classes, came to the Museum 

 so accompanied and told afterward with great disgust that 

 " they went to the Museum and there they were." 



Mr. Dooley says: " You can lead a man up to the Univer- 

 sity, but you can't make him think." I think that is hardiv 

 to be said of the Museum. My experience is that some stray 

 sparks of thought can hardly help being aroused in any one 

 who passes through the halls of a great Museum, well-ordered 



