MUSEUMS WE OUGHT TO HAVE
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—Referring to Mr. Bassett Digby's article in your paper for January 17th. Although some provincial museums do no doubt deserve his criticism, this, I think, is as a rule due to want of financial support from the people of the district. An efficient curator cannot be kept, and what is anybody's business soon becomes nobody's business, and the museum is neglected. Still there are many country museums which are a credit to their towns, and speaking of the one I know best, which is in this town, and is maintained by the Buck- inghamshire Archaeological Society, I can inform Mr. Digby that it fulfils many of the requirements he advocates. The rooms are well lighted and kept clean. They are open free to the public daily. With a few exceptions the exhibits are strictly local. The specimens are neatly arranged and well labelled. The curator is generally present, and is always willing to help any visitor who has an enquiry to make. Classes from elementary and secondary schools are encour- aged to visit the museum to study the collections, when the curator accompanies the class if desired. This has resulted in interesting local material being presented by the children.
On a recent occasion the museum was closed to the public for one morning and devoted to students from a college for the blind, any specimen which could safely be handled being taken from the cases for them to touch and examine. I know one swallow does not make a summer, but if Mr. Digby will keep his eyes open he will find others. To condemn all because some are not as good as they might be is not generous, and is very hard on those who in most cases are
endeavouring to make bricks without sufficient financial
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