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II 
The Provincial Museum 
HAT may fitly be called the provincial museum question 
has of late rapidly assumed considerable importance. 
The need for these institutions or the enthusiasm of their staff 
is not called in question ; as a matter of fact, it is in a great measure 
to the energy of provincial curators, as manifested at meetings of 
the Museums’ Association, that much of the present awakening is 
due. The evils from which these museums suffer are acknowledged 
to be a general lack of means, undermanning, and a partially or 
wholly untrained staff. The widespread attention which the subject 
receives even from the lay mind is evidence of a knowledge that 
better things are possible, and that a satisfactory settlement will 
tend to the public good and educational progress. The museum 
question has hitherto been attacked in two ways. The late Dr 
Goode in America, and Sir W. H. Flower in this country, have 
laboured alike to educate the public mind to the value and necessity 
of these institutions as factors in education, and to direct and 
stimulate museum workers. The second form of attack has been 
made by Professor Petrie (Brit. Assoc., Liverpool), and more recently 
by the editorial comments of Natural Science (Vol. xi., No. 66, Aug. 
1897). It may be defined as the suggestion of remedial measures. 
The addresses and papers of Sir W. H. Flower and Dr Goode have 
undoubtedly done much to pave the way for better progress, but 
before the remedial measures which are now advocated can be 
made effective or adequate to the needs of provincial museums, it will 
be necessary to consider fully their present position as a whole. 
Even a brief consideration of the provincial museum reveals 
much that is anomalous and unsatisfactory. Hardly any two can 
be said to work upon a common plan, whilst most develop and 
exist rather as the sport of circumstances than as the outcome of 
definite purpose and design. We much doubt if one can be pointed 
out which has an income at all equal to its needs, or which is able 
to develop and maintain its various sections according to their true 
value and proportion. 
We find also that Government recognition is accorded to pro- 
vincial museums in a vague and half-hearted manner. The Libraries 
and Museums Act can be put into operation if the people of a 
