20 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



attraction, which developed into a lifelong pursuit. At least if he can 

 remember, he will find that this "bent" did not begin in a dry instruc- 

 tion, but in something" which powerfully interested him. 



This has been recognized as true philosophy from the time when 

 Aristotle said "Knowledge begins in wonder;" and with it in view I 

 have felt desirous of devoting at least some small portion of the col- 

 lections to the purpose of stimulating the wonder and interest of all 

 the unlearned, and especially of the children, and I am fitting up in 

 the south tower of the Smithsonian building a small room on the 

 ground floor which is to be called the "Children's Room." The little 

 group of specimens it contains is meant to stimulate, interest, and 

 entertain rather than to ostensibly instruct. Latin is banished from 

 its labels, and the classification is not that of science, but that which is 

 most intelligible to the untrained mind. 



I shall return to this subject in a future report, when I can speak 

 both of the completion of the collection, which is not yet finished, and, 

 I hope, of useful results in the direction for which it is intended. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



The correspondence of the Institution embraces letters having refer- 

 ence not only to the scope of work of the Institution, but also relating 

 to the bureaus placed by Congress under its direction. Many letters 

 relating exclusively to the activities of the bureaus mentioned are 

 referred to them for attention and answer, but those involving in any 

 way the policy of the Institution or relating to other than routine 

 matters are referred to the Secretar3^ 



As in former j'^ears, a considerable amount of correspondence relates 

 to matters not strictly within the purview of the Institution's inter- 

 ests, T)ut it has been the endeavor in ever}'^ instance where the infor- 

 mation desired could be readily obtained to supply the wants of the 

 applicant. Where the inquiry addressed to the Institution appears to 

 come within the immediate scope of the functions of some other l)ranch 

 of the Government service, the communication has been referred to the 

 chief of the department or bureau concerned, and the writer so informed. 

 The correspondence of the Institution is perhaps more varied and 

 embraces a wider range of subjects than obtains in other departments 

 of the Government, and but a very small percentage of the letters 

 received, concern business of a routine nature. It can readily be under- 

 stood that this circumstance requires an unusual amount of energy and 

 labor on the part of the staffs of the Institution and its several bureaus 

 to properly reply as fully as possible to correspondents. 



The system inaugurated in 1890, of registering and referring letters 

 received at the Institution, when of sufficient importance to warrant 

 a permanent record of them, has continued in successful operation, 

 and entries have been promptly made and any arrears avoided. 



