STUDIES ON MUSEUMS AND KINDRED INSTITUTIONS. 843 



vklual sections with tlicir suhordiiuitcs. The workino' hours nve from 

 9 to 6 on week days and the afternoon of Sunday; there is a weekly 

 half holiday. The number of visitors in 1898-99 was about 93,000. 

 Admission is free on Wednesday, Thursday, Frida}', Saturday, and 

 Sunday, even when these are holidays; on Wednesday and Saturday 

 from 9 to 6; Thursday and Friday from 7.30 a. m. to 7.45 p. ni., and 

 Sunday from 2 to 6 p. m. On IVIonday and Tuesday from 9 to there 

 is an admission fee of 25 cents; children under !(> years, 10 cents, and 

 children under 14 years are only admitted when accompanied b}^ a 

 grown person. LTmbrellas and canes are checked free, voluntary gifts 

 for this service not being customary. The Institute publishes an 

 illustrated Yearbook (the eleventh for 1898-99 has 422 pages), as well 

 as an annual prospectus, which contains reliable information regard- 

 ing the lectures, demonstrations, and instruction. The prospectus for 

 1899-1900 contained 181 pages. The museum has as 3'et published 

 only one catalogue of paintings (in two editions, 1898 and 1900), and 

 an illustrated catalogue of the Goodj^ear collection of photographs of 

 Italian architecture and sculpture (1896), which were taken on one 

 of the museum expeditions (1895)." Other scientific expeditions are 

 projected. 



The distribution of space and the lighting of the portion of the 

 building now^ standing are excellent.'' As in the Natural History 

 Museum in New York, the halls are almost without ornament. The 

 walls and ceilings are white or of a uniform color, the lobbies and 

 staircase light gray. This deserves special mention because the 

 collections of so many museums, at least in Europe, are rather 

 injured than benetit^d l)y too much decoration, or ])y the style of the 

 decoration of the galleries. The engines for heating, ventilating, 

 lighting, and electric power are located in the basement, and cause a 

 shaking in certain portions of the building. The steam radiators 

 are placed mostly under the windows or near them. A hot-air plant, 

 besides, run by the steam engine, heats all the halls through openings 

 about two-thirds above the floors. Ventilation is accomplished by 

 means of an electric ventilator in the roof, but this does not seem 

 free from objections. The problem is seldom well solved in large 

 buildings. In the axis of a well-lighted, spacious, spiral staircase 

 (iron steps overlaid with slate) an electric elevator runs to the roof, 

 from which, on account of the high situation of the building, ma}- be 

 enjoyed a fine, extensive view, with the Botanical Gardens and Pros- 

 pect Park in the foreground. The basement is 25 feet high and con- 



« The publication of a Science Ball etin and of Memoirs of Art and Archeolodn have 

 since begun. — 1908. 



'' In this north tract the unfavorable position of the entire building with rejianl to 

 tlie points of the compass is less apjiarent because tlie south side, whicii wiU adjoin 

 a covered court, is in part protected from the rays of the sun. 



