ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS. 35 



National Museum always open in our very midst ! Everything 

 that we can hope to shew in a small museum, may certainly be 

 found in the British Museum. 



I have already referred, however, to the bewildering effect 

 of large collections. There is no question that the wealth 

 of specimens is apt to throw the untrained visitor into a state of 

 mental distraction. Mr. Thomas Greenwood has observed that 

 u there is such a condition of mind as picture drunkenness 

 or Museum drunkenness." 49 Depend upon it a small collection 

 ■encourages concentration of attention, whilst a large collection 

 tempts to diffusion of thought. Just as every student knows 

 " it is better to digest a chapter than to read a volume," so it is 

 far better to see a small collection, and remember what it 

 teaches, than to range aimlessly over a vast museum. 



Many years ago when it was proposed to establish a local 

 museum at Wimbledon, Mr. Joseph Toynbee delivered an 

 •excellent address in which he advanced the view that in a large 

 town or city, each parish should have its own museum, exhibiting 

 the objects collected within a radius of five miles from the 

 parish." 50 



No thoughtful person will despise a small museum, or 

 •object to such museums being multiplied, when he reflects on the 

 utility of such humble institutions to the young people in their 

 immediate neighbourhood. If any one desires to see what may 

 be done with small means, let him visit the little museums 

 at Stepney under the care of Miss Kate Hall. 51 This enthusiastic 

 lady, by her admirable demonstrations, has made her museums 

 living centres of light and learning to the children of the East 

 End. 



The subject of demonstrations is one of great importance in 

 viewing museums from an educational standpoint. Many 

 persons fail to feel interest in a visit to a museum merely 

 because they have no one to direct them and offer simple 

 explanations of what they see. A party of visitors will often 

 sigh for some " museum Cook," who could personally conduct 

 them round the institution. Such conduct, however, needs to be in 

 capable hands. In the early days of the British Museum it was 

 the custom for the attendants to take the visitors, in small parties, 



49 Museums and A rt Galleries, p. 29. 



50 " Hints on the Formation of Local Museums. p 21. 



51 See her paper, "The Smallest Museum," The Museums Journal, vol. i. (1902), p. 38 



