STUDIES ON MUSEUMS AND KINDRED INSTITUTIONS. 



541 



tologT. botany, zoology, anthropology', archeology, ethnograph}^ 

 (also numismatics), and is well administered. The large ground floor 

 hall, 100 by 50 feet in dimensions, with side lights on the right and 

 left and with cases at right angles with the walls, is well lighted 

 by large windows (tig. 86). One is here again convinced that this 

 is the only proper method of museum lighting, since the halls on the 

 second floor, with .skylights and two galleries, one above the other 

 (fig. 87), are poorly lighted and sutler under reflections from the 

 glass of the cases. The main stairway leads only to this story with 

 its large rooms, 100 by 50 feet floor space. 40 feet high, while the 

 two galleries are reached by an inside stairway (flg. 87). The Gothic 



Fig. 86.— Owens ( 



, Manch(j.--t(.'r. England, Manchester Museum. Fir.>;t floor. 



architecture has a disturliing etfect and detracts from the impressive- 

 ness of the exhibits, which it overshadows. Then again, because of 

 the favado, a ditference in height, with steps, had to.be introduced in 

 the interior, which is inconvenient. Thus in the rear of the main 

 halls already mentioned there is a transverse hall about 7'2 b^' 30 feet 

 in size. The terrazzo pavement is not especially suitable, since, as 

 elsewhere, it becomes broken. Nonelastic stone floors in museums 

 are fatiguing to visitors. The wooden cases and cabinets are hardh^ 

 up to strict requirements, though generall}' great care and considera- 

 tion has been given to the installation of specimens. 8o many labels 

 have been provided for the benefit of students that this museum 

 really, in some portions, ma}' claim to be "a collection of instructive 



