ON NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS. 35
National Museum always open in our very midst ! Everything
that we can hope to shew in a small museum, may certainly be
found in the British Museum.
I have already referred, however, to the bewildering effect
of large collections. There is no question that the wealth
of specimens is apt to throw the untrained visitor into a state of
mental distraction. Mr. Thomas Greenwood has observed that
"there is such a condition of mind as picture drunkenness
or Museum drunkenness."10 Depend upon it a small collection
encourages concentration of attention, whilst a large collection
tempts to diffusion of thought. Just as every student knows
"it is better to digest a chapter than to read a volume," so it is
far better to see a small collection, and remember what it
teaches, than to range aimlessly over a vast museum.
Many years ago when it was proposed to establish a local
museum at Wimbledon, Mr. Joseph Toynbee delivered an
excellent address in which he advanced the view that in a large
town or city, each parish should have its own museum, exhibiting
the objects collected within a radius of five miles from the
parish."50
No thoughtful person will despise a small museum, or
object to such museums being multiplied, when he reflects on the
utility of such humble institutions to the young people in their
immediate neighbourhood. If any one desires to see what may
be done with small means, let him visit the little museums
at Stepney under the care of Miss Kate Hall.51 This enthusiastic
lady, by her admirable demonstrations, has made her museums
living centres of light and learning to the children of the East
End.
The subject of demonstrations is one of great importance in
viewing museums from an educational standpoint. Many
persons fail to feel interest in a visit to a museum merely
because they have no one to direct them and offer simple
explanations of what they see. A party of visitors will often
sigh for some "museum Cook," who could personally conduct
them round the institution. Such conduct, however, needs to be in
capable hands. In the early days of the British Museum it was
the custom for the attendants to take the visitors, in small parties,
49 Museums and Art Galleries, p. 29.
50 "Hints on the Formation of Local Museums. p. 21.
51 See her paper, "The Smallest Museum," The Museums Journal, vol. i. (1902), p. 38