18 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1895. 



$G0,00() ji year, a sum iiiucli sinallor in its power to eflect results than 

 ever in previous years." 



Can the United States fail to recognize its obligation to supplement 

 liberally tliis private contribution for public good, especially if it be 

 borne in mind that, as Secretary Langley has shown, the Institution 

 has left in perpetual charge of the nation, in the Museum alone, prop- 

 erty acquired out of its private fund which is now more than equal in 

 value to the whole amount of the Smithsonian bequest? 



Every museum has its special characteristics growing out of its form 

 of organization, its location, scope, and financial and other resources. 

 The character of the National Museum is fundamentally affected by its 

 connection with the Smithsonian Institution, its dependence upon Con- 

 gress for appropriations annually, and the necessity, under existing 

 laws, of its caring for all collections belonging to the Government. 



Of the connection of the Museum with the Smithsonian Institution, 

 it should be said that it is in the highest degree advantageous. It 

 should be borne in mind that it is essentially a Smithsonian museum, 

 since, especially in its earlier liistory, the Institution expended large 

 sums of money in aiding explorations, Avith the distinct purpose of 

 increasing the collections in certain directions, while of late years 

 it has deposited all the valuable gifts and bequests of specimens it 

 has re(;eived. It has had in addition, for nearly half a century, the 

 use of the larger portion of the Smithsonian building, and, what is of 

 paramount importance, the guidance and influence of the officers 

 of the Institution, and the very valuable assistance of its numerous 

 corres])ondents. 



C— THE WORK OF THE MUSETTM IN PUBLIC EDUCATION. 



The work of the Museum, if it only performed the functions of an 

 institution for scientific investigation, would be of sufficient value to 

 justify its maintenance and extension. The Museum, however, not 

 only performs these functions, but also does a very great deal to render 

 the resources of science available to the public at large. 



The National Museum is a treasure-house filled with materials for the 

 use of investigators, and it is also an agency for the instruction of the 

 people of the whole country. 



In a recent address before the American Historical Association, I 

 attempted to explain the idea of our work as follows: 



(1) That public institutions of learning are not intended for the few, 

 but for the enlightenment and education of the masses. 



(2) That the public lias a right to full participation in the results of 

 the work of the scientific establishments which they are helping to 

 maintain. 



(3) That one of the chief duties of the officers of these institutions 

 is to provide means by which such results may be presented in an 

 attractive as well as an intelligible form. 



