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TBE USE AND ABUSE OF MUSEUMS.
Then, again, if anybody wants to Iearn how thinge are
made, it can only be done by visiting the factories themselves
and seeing the real work in progress. A busy factory is one
of the very best kinds of educntionrrl Museums, aud it is impossible
to urge too strongly upon the proprietors of large
works conveniently situated in or near largo towns, the
advantage which they confer upon tho public by allowing
inspection. I know several important works in Manchestar
and elsewhere where wise and liberal ideas haw long prevailed
in this way. The visitor, furnished with tho least proper introduction,
is handed over at once to an intelligeut guide, and
shown round the regular course of the manufacture. On
leaving, the visitors deposit about sixpence per head in a box
t,o be devoted to the workmen's benefit society. The expense
and ioterruption to work produced by systematic visiting in
this may must be very slight, and must usunlly bo more than
repaid (though this, I am sure, is not the motive) by the advertisemeut
of the goods. Proprietors of factories generally close
their works to the public under tho plea that they have all
sorts of secret processes and arrangements which they cannot
allow strangers and foreigucrs to lesru ; but in most cases this
ix absurd. If there is any real secret to be learned, there are
hundreds of workmen in a busy factory through whom it can
be learned. O€ coarse, what applies to private factories, may
be s3id still more strongly of Governmcnt works oE all
kinds. Entrance is alroady 'obtained pretty easily to tho
Royal Mint, the Dockyards, Woolwich Arsenal, etc. So great
is the edumtioual and recreational value of admission to such
establishments, that the Government ought to insist upon the
utmost possible freedom of admission for visitors consistent
with the work being carried on. Tho manner in which the
public were until lately admitted, or rather not admitted, to
the Tow& Museum, for instance, \vas highly absurd and
objectionable. The Tower is just one of those natural
historical Museums which, from the unity and appropriateness
of its contents and aurronndings, is calculated most
strongly to impress the visitor. It is an almoet unique and
priceleas historical posemion. Bnt it is impossible to imagine
as