■^682 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



brate palaeontology, etc., etc. All the requirements of the departments are thus 

 kept strictly tabulated, and these requisitions posted in a ledger under an account 

 drawn up for each department furnishes an absolutely accurate registry of all 

 expenses for the year, the cost of the requisition being ascertained and recorded 

 in every instance. It brings also under the inspection of the director the char- 

 acter and extent of the requisition, and it involves his judgment and approval 

 of every item of expense. 



Many museums are supposed to be governed by a board of trustees who 

 frequently furnish large amounts of money for the maintenance and expansion 

 of the museum, or who act as intermediates between a city, or other public body, 

 and the museum, receiving from the former, under certain stipulations, the nec- 

 essary sums of money for its support. In many instances, as is particularly true 

 of British museums, the government provides the same amount of money which 

 is secured from private initiative and generosity. Now the director through the 

 trustees, or the president representing the same body, becomes responsible for 

 the expenditure of the public money, and a report or demonstration becomes 

 imperative, showing the use and results of the expenditure of the public funds. 

 Whether such a report is made to the trustees or to the government the inter- 

 mediary ofifice of the director is apparent. Through him the reconciliation is 

 effected between the demands of the benefactors and the efforts of the beneficiary. 

 A show of reason is given for the continued support, and the analysis or apol- 

 ogy enumerates the stages of advancement, their features and their usefulness. 

 It unfailingly is eloquent upon the great public advantage of the museum. 



In administration is implied complete protection of property and the preven- 

 tion of extravagance, prodigality and misuse of funds. 



The curator represents the indispensable control which should give each 

 department of a museum its peculiar expression, and his duties involve an appre- 

 ciation of the popular and scientific features of installation. There can be no 

 doubt as to the diverse aspects of a curatorship, and when along with the inven- 

 tion and art which is involved in giving the collections under his charge an 

 attractive appearance, and the necessary systematic arrangement, and discharg- 

 ing his functions as an investigator, as well as taking the part of an instructor 

 in talks, lectures, etc., the attainments needed are considerable. It is quite cer- 

 tain that these contrasted elements are not all readily combined, and it is a feas- 

 ible proposition to give in large museums a divided expression to the depart- 

 ments, by the incorporation of the strictly scientific explorer with the duties of 

 installation, exposition, correspondence and illustration. 



In museums which depend upon public support, those which, in large cities, 

 in consideration of their being made free to the public, receive a great munici- 

 pal appropriation should industriously assist the public schools, making their 

 contributions, in specimens, to the schools helpful in the courses of nature study. 

 Such assistance reacts most favorably. It creates a public constituency which 

 can be safely relied on in times of stress or persecution, or when more generous 

 assistance from the city treasury seems essential. 



There is one section of museum activity which seems pertinently alluded to 

 under the heading of Administration. It is the interests and work of the taxi- 



