754 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXV. No. 645 



sophical Society, the structure and grounds, 

 with a military band in attendance, will make 

 a convenient general rendezvous throughout 

 the week. 



A further edition of a very interesting work, 

 ' Glimpses of Ancient Leicester,' by a local 

 author, Mrs. Fielding Johnson, is being issued 

 in connection with this meeting, and a hand- 

 book by another Leicester lady, Mrs. Nuttall, 

 will be provided. The latter book will contain 

 chapters on subjects of scientific interest pre- 

 pared by various experts specially for the use 

 of visitors. 



Excursions are being arranged to many 

 points of interest in the district, and the 

 Mayor, Alderman Sir Edward Wood, J.P., 

 will issue invitations to an evening fete in the 

 Abbey Park. Sir Samuel Eaire, J.P., will 

 give a garden-party, and it may be taken for 

 granted that the social side of the meeting 

 will be well provided for. The comfort and 

 enjoyment of all attending the meeting will 

 not be overlooked, while the objects of the 

 existence and visit of the association will 

 throughout the week have the first considera- 

 tion and thought. 



TEE AMERICAN MUSEUM OP NATURAL 

 HISTORY 



The American Museum of Natural History, 

 New York, will hereafter be open to the public 

 free of charge at all times. Mr. Morris K. 

 Jesup, president, has addressed the following 

 letter to Dr. Hermon C Bumpus, the director 

 of the museum: 



From the time of the founding of the American 

 Museum of Natural History — now nearly forty 

 years ago — certain days of each week have heen 

 reserved for ' members,' pupils of the public 

 schools, special students and artists, the public 

 being admitted on these days (Mondays and Tues- 

 days) only on the payment of an admission fee. 

 Although this is almost a universal custom, I am 

 convinced that its continuation by the American 

 Museum is now of doubtful expediency. 



This reservation really amounts to the closing 

 of our doors to the public for approximately one- 

 third of the time, and while, for reasons of econ- 

 omy, it may have been necessary during our early 

 history, we should not forget that the American 

 Museum is a municipal institution, it is primarily 



for the public, and any regulation that interferes 

 with the general enjoyment of its privileges ia 

 contrary to the spirit of its founders and opposed 

 to the wishes of its supporters. 



The growth of the museum during the last few 

 years has made it possible to accommodate large 

 bodies of school children without interfering ma- 

 terially with the use of the exhibition halls by 

 adults. Special students are now given laboratory 

 facilities well removed from visitors, and artists 

 have long found every encouragement for their 

 work in private rooms or in portions of the gal- 

 lery temporarily partitioned off for their use. 



It is true that free admission to the museum 

 on Mondays and Tuesdays has long been enjoyed 

 as one of the many ' privileges of membership,' 

 but I thoroughly believe that those who have con- 

 tributed and are contributing towards the support 

 of this institution are not actuated by selfish mo- 

 tives; they contribute because they believe in the 

 work that the museum is doing and because they 

 derive pleasure from being associated with it. 



I wish therefore — and in this I believe I have 

 the support of the entire board of trustees — ^that 

 until further notice arrangements be made to have 

 the American Museum of Natural History open 

 daily and its exhibition halls absolutely free to all. 



In forwarding a copy of this letter to 

 members of the museum, the director says : 



The enclosed letter of President Jesup will meet 

 the hearty approval of all interested in the welfare 

 and development of public educational institu- 

 tions. 



When the American Museum was relatively 

 small, and the exhibition halls were consequently 

 often overcrowded, there were valid reasons for 

 restricting the attendance on certain days, but 

 with the recent growth and the provision of spe- 

 cial facilities for students and others specially 

 interested, these reasons no longer exist. The at- 

 tendance is constantly growing, and it is a matter 

 of common remark that those visiting the museum 

 are seriously interested. They are orderly, intel- 

 ligent and earnest. The museum is not a resort 

 for the idle. The location is such as generally to 

 require the expenditure of considerable time in 

 travel on the part of the visitor, and although the 

 admission fee has been small, it is nevertheless 

 more than many can afford, and hundreds, even 

 thousands, have been turned away thereby. 



It is thought that this action on the part of 

 President Jesup is in the line of progress, and it 

 will doubtless add materially to the already large 

 number who are identified with the museum as 



