34 ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS.
itself, inevitably degenerate. The tender care of the Curator
is needed incessantly. The Rev. H. H. Higgins, who was for
so many years the enthusiastic honorary Curator of the Liverpool
Museum, well said that "the Curator is the soul of the
museum"—a sentiment endorsed by most authorities on museum
organization. Yet how often does it happen that as we pass
through a well arranged museum we forget the Curator ! The
visitor seems usually to think that the specimens are able to
shuffle about and arrange themselves in scientific order. But if
in the midst of an orderly arrangement there should be some
small part of the collection in an unsatisfactory condition, the
Curator is then by no means forgotten. In accordance with the
common tendency of human criticism, we are apt to overlook
the bulk of the collection in all its fair aspect, and centre our
attention on the disfiguring speck.
However devoted and however smart a Curator may be, he
finds it impossible to make bricks without straw. In order that
his museum may be in creditable condition, he needs all the neat
appliances which are now in the market for mounting and,
displaying specimens ; he needs the best books of reference for
the identification of the objects which pass through his hands ;
he requires assistance at least to carry out such mechanical
details as mounting and labelling. Above all, the cases and
cabinets in the museum must be of the best construction, so as to
protect their contents from dust and other sources of deterioration.
If we have any regard for our collection, it will be found the
worst possible policy to buy cheap cabinets. Taking all this
into consideration, a museum is often denounced as an expensive
fad. Never was there a greater mistake ; it is not a fad, and
considering its value to the community it is not expensive. "If
you compare its cost with that of any other part of our
educational machinery, I maintain," said Mr. Charles Madeley,
"that it is exceedingly cheap."48
Admitting the value of Museums, under certain conditions,
objection has sometimes been taken to their multiplication. It
has been held that in proportion as they become common they
will cease to be impressive. We in London surely cannot want
them. What need can there be to have small Museums in
or near the metropolis, when we have the doors of the
48 "District Museums." Museums Journal. vol. IV. (1904). p. 117.