ii PLAN FOR A NATIONAL MUSEUM 51 



well as to the particular part of the collection to which they 

 belong. A glance at the plan will show at once the great 

 convenience of such a system, both for the public, and still 

 more for those who work in the museum. 



This plan, of course, contemplates a one-storied, top-lighted 

 building, as far as the main rooms are concerned, although the 

 workrooms and studies will be in two or more stories. The 

 main rooms should all have a good substantial gallery running 

 round them, by means of which their wall space is doubled. 

 There is no question whatever that an evenly-diffused top 

 light is far the best for exhibition rooms. Windows not 

 only occupy the valuable wall space, but give all kinds of 

 uncomfortable cross lights, interspersed with dark intervals, 

 On the other hand, for doing any kind of delicate work, a 

 good north light from a window, as provided in the plan, is 

 the most suitable. The convenience of having all the studies in 

 relation with each other, and with the central administrative 

 offices, while each one is also in close contiguity with the 

 section of the collection to which it belongs, will, I am sure, 

 be appreciated by all who are acquainted with the capriciously 

 scattered position of such rooms in most large museums, 

 notably in our own. Among other advantages would be the 

 very great one, that when the daily hour of closing the main 

 building arrives, the officers need no longer, as at present, be 

 interrupted in whatever piece of work they may have at hand, 

 and turned out of the building, but, as arrangements could 

 easily be made for a i separate exit, they could continue their 

 labours as long and as late as they find it convenient to do so, 

 without any fear for the safety of the general collections. 



It will be observed that provision is made for a central 

 hall, which is always a good architectural feature at the 

 entrance of a building, and which in a large museum is 

 certainly useful in providing for the exhibition of objects of 

 general interest not strictly coming under any of the divisions 

 of the subject in the galleries, or possibly for specimens of too 

 great a size to be conveniently exhibited elsewhere. There is 

 also provision in the central part of the building for the 

 refreshment -rooms, as well as for the library and a lecture 

 room, the first being an essential, and the latter a very useful 



