88 Editorial Miscellany. 



details of a plan for establishing, in this city, an institution similar in 

 its general design to the South Kensington Museum, of London, 

 "which is to be in its nature educational, devoted to the culture of 

 science and art among the people at large. 



The importance of such an institution in the Queen City of the West, 

 already recognized as a growing center of musical and artistic culture, 

 can hardly be overestimated, if the noble project is so consummated as to 

 subserve the interests of education in the highest and best sense. 



The cultivation of the mind through the ©ye, is universally recognized 

 as one of the nv)st efficacious modes of modern education ; and the col- 

 lection, in one convenient building, of objects for illustrative reference 

 in the various departments of natural science and the fine arts, can not 

 but exercise a most important influence upon the general culture of 

 the community. 



Something has been already accomplished in this direction — so far, 

 at least, as relates to Natural History — by a society of some years' ex- 

 istence in this city, composed of persons more especially devoted to tech- 

 nical scientific culture. This organization, known as the " Cincinnati 

 Society of Natural History," has already accumulated a valuable col- 

 lection of objects illustrating the various departments of Natural History 

 and pre-historic Archeology, which needs only a proper and secure 

 place for its deposit, to be veryjargely increased by donations, now with- 

 held because of the insufficiency and insecurity of the present rooms. 



The same remarks apply with little modification to the fine library 

 and collection of antiquities of the "Historical Society of Ohio." These 

 societies, Avith their valuable treasures, are quartered in small garret- 

 rooms of the College Building, on Walnut street, practically inaccessi- 

 ble to the general public, and exposed to all exigencies of fire. 



Both of these societies, composed of men of exceptional culture, 

 deeply interested in promoting the special objects of their association, 

 could be made valuable auxiliaries in perfecting the f)l<iii announced by 

 Mr. Probasco. They might be united as departments of an institute 

 which should include any others contemplated by the founders ; and the 

 stimulus thus afforded to nuclei already in existence, would be productive 

 of results far exceeding those attainable in any other way. A live 

 and permanent interest would thus be maintained in each department, 

 under the control of persons devoted to the particular objects of its 

 creation ; and a fire-proof and convenient building for their exhibition 

 would attract to such collections a vast number of valuable and inter- 

 esting objects now buried in comparatively useless private cabinets. 



— In this connection, we may refer to the American Museum of 

 Natural History recently established in the old arsenal in Central 



