THE AMERICAN MUSEUM JOURNAL 
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Meanwhile a contract was entered into between the city and the trustees 
which has subsisted without change for more than thirty-two years, and 
upon which the contracts of the city with other great institutions like the 
Museum of Art and the Zodlogical Society have been closely modeled. 
This contract embodies a mutually generous policy which secures equal 
advantage to the Museum and the public. It practically provides for a 
permanent occupation by the Museum of all the buildings erected or to be 
erected in Manhattan Square, and for a free exhibition to the public of all 
our collections, under regulations to be mutually agreed upon. ‘The Mu- 
seum is to continue at all times the absolute and exclusive owner of the 
collections, and the city the absolute and exclusive owner of the buildings. 
Under this arrangement the delightful and mutually beneficial relations 
between the Museum and the people which it inaugurated have steadily 
grown more close and cordial, to the immense advantage of both. 
The administration of Mr. Stuart was one of enormous interest and 
progress. ‘The Museum was constantly acquiring new and great collections 
of recognized scientific as well as popular value. A scheme of lectures to 
public school teachers was instituted under Professor Bickmore, and the 
Museum began to attract the attention of scientific bodies by the number and 
variety of its valuable collections. Myr. Stuart’s name will be perpetuated 
as one of our most important benefactors. 
I have thus traced the beginnings, but yet only the beginnings, of that 
truly beneficent institution whose fortieth anniversary we have met to-day to 
celebrate by the unveiling of this most lifelike statue of the one man who, 
more than any other — I might almost say, more than all others, for he truly 
inspired and led all the rest to work in codperation with him,— has trans- 
formed the curiosity shop of miscellaneous and unrelated exhibits which 
was transferred hither from the old Arsenal in 1877, into this great educa- 
tional and scientific establishment, this national, this truly American mu- 
seum of natural history, which is the boast of New York and the admiration 
of the nation, and may I not say, of the world to-day? If you seek for the 
monument of Morris K. Jesup, you have not far to go. You have only to 
wander, with eyes and mind wide open, through these splendid halls, so 
nobly constructed and fitly equipped, and filled with these collections of 
wonder and of beauty, among which day unto day uttereth speech, and night 
unto night showeth knowledge of the works of nature, which are truly the 
works of God. 
I shall attempt no idle words of eulogy of Mr. Jesup, but speak of him 
only in connection with his work as here accomplished, the crowning glory 
of a long and honorable life. 
To the average observer, the casual layman, untrained by scientific 
