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this means it is sought to make them instructive and interesting 
to our citizens. 
The usual courses of twenty lectures to the teachers of the 
Public Schools have been delivered by Professor Bickmore during 
the spring and fall, under the joint contract between this Institu- 
tion and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The 
Act continuing this work passed the last Legislature and received 
the approval of Governor Flower. In addition to the free lectures 
to the public delivered by Professor Bickmore in the afternoon of 
New Year's, Washington's Birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas, 
he has also given the following four lectures to members of the 
Museum during November and December : 
World's Fairs, from London, 185 1, to Paris, 1889. 
The Columbian Exposition of 1893 — Its Organization and Administration. 
Department of Mines and Mining — Iron, Copper and Salt. 
Department of Mines and Mining — Silver, Gold and Diamonds. 
Reference must also be made to the system inaugurated 
this year, of giving a series of talks or informal lectures in the 
library Saturday afternoons. These have been delivered by the 
assistant curators of the several departments, and were illustrated 
by specimens from the collections. The plan at once met with 
pronounced and popular favor, and has demonstrated the need of 
a small lecture hall for this purpose. 
Meetings of Scientific Societies. — The New York Micro- 
scopical Society again held its Annual Exhibition at the Museum, 
and the attendance largely exceeded that of the previous year. 
Other scientific bodies hold their regular meetings in the build- 
ing, and its use by such societies is encouraged. 
Meetings of the Faculty. — The adoption of a plan to 
ensure a uniform system of labeling has long been desired, and 
to this end the President has called the Faculty together on 
several occasions. The discussions have resulted in the adoption 
of a popular and instructive series of labels, and a better devised 
system for the exhibition of the material. 
