Annual Meeting. J 
294 
[May 6, 
PUBLIC ADVANTAGES TO BE GAINED. 
The interest taken by the general public in our natural 
history museums must be seen to be appreciated ; and if 
dead creatures and their bare skeletons can attract multi- 
tudes of visitors, of how much deeper interest will living 
creatures prove. Such an exhibition will give the city 
child, whose knowledge of the world about him is so piti- 
fully meagre, a new and vivid enjoyment. It will offer a 
healthful and instructive pastime to many otherwise des- 
tined to become idlers. It will open the eyes of all to the 
wonders and attractions of earth, air, and sea, and be a 
source of strength and life to the recovering invalid. It 
will plant deep in the hearts of the people a simple love of 
Nature, which, like all refining influences, will become a 
corrective of mischief and wrong, and a source of pure 
enjoyment. In the crowd of entertainments catering in a 
greater or less degree to evil passions, it will afford a 
nobler and purer, because simpler and healthier, amuse- 
ment. To many it will be the beginning of a new and 
natural life, while to the student of the laws of Nature it 
will offer unparalleled fields for investigation. 
The establishment of such institutions under the imme- 
diate auspices of the Natural History Society, and upon 
grounds leased of the Park Commissioners for the special 
purposes herein set forth, is a distinct assurance that they 
will be so conducted as to merit the approval of all good 
citizens ; and we confidently anticipate that when it has 
been shown what these establishments can fairly do they 
will be the recipients of the utmost favor from those who 
possess the means for their endowment. 
