328 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. 
interested in the scientific education of the masses, may 
not he untimely. The museum that receives little or no 
support from public funds naturally owes little or nothing 
in that direction and so, in the arrangement of it exhibits, is 
free to disregard their special needs; hut when this support con¬ 
stitutes a material part of or, as in some cases, its entire income 
then the museum is under moral obligations to discharge its 
debt in the fullest possible degree by rendering special service 
to the public. 
In order to set before you the change in attitude in the one 
matter of admission I will quote from a hook published in 1778, 
by John and Andrew Van Rymsduck, entitled “Museum Bri- 
tannicum”, being a guide to the then 25 year old British Mus¬ 
eum, in which the following directions are given for those wish¬ 
ing to view the collections: “Vow in respect of knowing the 
method of applying to see the British Museum, it is by deliver¬ 
ing in a list of the Christian and surnames of each Person, with 
their titles, rank, Profession, and places of abode, to the Por¬ 
ter’s Lodge, at the left Entry within the Gate, who will enter 
them in a Book; the Principal Librarian orders the Day and 
Hour for the Tickets to be fixed upon, which when sent for are 
delivered. 
“Vo more than fifteen Persons are permitted at one Time, 
and two hours allowed for viewing, and as most Company’s love 
to go together, the fewer in Vumber, the list is, the easier, they 
will serve to compleat the Vumber of Fifteen, and the sooner 
they stand a chance of being admitted. 
“Such as have obtained Tickets and cannot come, are earn¬ 
estly desired to return them to the Porter as early as they can 
that others may be entered in their Stead. 
“After a list has been entered in the Book, if the Tickets are 
not fetched away, at the latest by Ten in the Morning, the Day 
before the Time of admission, they will be otherwise disposed 
of; and no Regard will be paid to such Lists as require the 
Tickets to be sent to any of the Parties. 
“If any one comes with another Person’s Ticket, it is ex¬ 
pected that they acquaint the Officers with it, in order to have 
