PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 27 



One of my most delightful American experiences was a visit 

 to the "Children's Room " in the Smithsonian Institution. The 

 story of this notable departure in museum organisation, wholly 

 in the interests of the little ones, has been charmingly told by 

 Mr. Albert B. Paine, in an article contributed to the St. Nicholas 

 Magazine for September, 1901, subsequently reprinted, with most 

 beautiful illustrations, in the Annual Report of the Smithsonian 

 Institution for 1901. The idea of the Children's Room originated 

 in the fertile brain of Dr. S. P. Langley, the distinguished 

 Secretar}'' of the Smithsonian Institution ; who accordingly 

 officially appointed himself Honorar}^ Curator, with explicit 

 instructions " to see that a room was reserved and properly pre- 

 pared for little children who wished only to look and wonder, 

 and find out such things as little people most want to know." 

 In carrying out his self-imposed task, Professor Langley had, on 

 the one hand, the approval and support of the Board of Regents 

 of the Institution; and, on the other, the loyal and enthusiastic 

 co-operation of his colleagues; and, withal, the resources of the 

 Smithsonian Institution and of the affiliated U.S. National 

 Museum to draw upon. Special attention Mas devoted to the 

 painting and decoration of the room, to the planning and 

 arrangement of the show-cases, and also to the labelling of the 

 contents. The specimens exhibited are, above all things, choice 

 rather than numerous. "Each object is chosen just to give the 

 child pleasure. If the child receives instruction, too, well and 

 good; but first of all he must be attracted and pleased, and made 

 to wonder, for in wonder lie the beginnings of knowledge." The 

 Children's Room was opened to the public in 1901, and has fully 

 justitied its originator's expectations as to its appreciation by 

 those for whose entertainment and pleasure it has been specially 

 provided. As time goes on no doubt it will be still further 

 developed, so as ta fulfil yet more perfectly the aim and object 

 for which it was instituted. "The subjects represented are mainly 

 zoological; familiar American birds, common European birds, large 

 birds of prey, interesting water-birds, curious birds, brilliantly 

 coloured birds, illustrations of protective mimicry among birds 



