REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR igi2 9 



appeal to the people would be of tremendous force and the response 

 from the people would not fail to be substantial. It is well worth 

 while to consider if the development of this conception in the 

 museum series can wisely be left to a coming generation. 



The public art museum is naturally the last to take its place in 

 the development of the public museum idea. Time will bring it 

 to every state as intellectual appreciation and the love of the beauti- 

 ful advance. Experience has taught this, and the abundance of art 

 museums maintained in the older countries by state grants is evi- 

 dence that, even though the time may still be unripe in New York, 

 at least its seed has taken root. 



A law in which the people have intimated a desire, if not an inten- 

 tion, to develop the museum idea for the State on the broad lines 

 indicated, remains but partially enforced. An intelligent people 

 opened the door for the development of this idea; the conception 

 has been rather too long left unheeded. This State has inti- 

 mated its willingness to stand for the progressive habilitation of 

 this conception and with the Regents of the University, charged 

 with the enforcement of this law and the right to execute its 

 intentions, lies here an opportunity for additional public service. 



II 



THE EDUCATIONAL FUNCTION OF THE STATE 



MUSEUM OF SCIENCE 



In rendering the annual account of the procedure in this 

 division during the fiscal year, it seems well to ask special 

 attention from those who may read this report to the require- 

 ments of the real educational functions of this organization. 

 Year after year record has been made of the advance of work 

 along the several lines of scientific inquiry and conversation 

 legitimately pursued by it. Data of scientific worth and m.oment 

 have annually heaped up on the vast accumulation of like facts 

 which the many years of previous work have brought forth ; 

 publications have issued in unbroken streams, in which some 

 part of this accumulation of knowledge has been digested and 

 set forth so as to take its proper place in the fabric of science. 

 All the work done and the work begun, whatever its outcome^ 

 is to have its final bearing on the progress of the knowledge 

 of this State and its natural resources, howsoever remote its 

 immediate relation thereto may seem. 



