Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-06
AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE PUBLIC.
SPIRITED

The California Museum Association
with It's location in the Croker Art Gal
lery, in this city is now ready to begin the
work Of collecting museum, the first pub
lie one upon the coast. 1t has had a very
active life since its inception. Very few
organizations, in so brief time, have ac-
comphshed 50 much No association has
| called upon its directors for more Of labor
and sacrifice OF time and labor for the pub
lie good. The society has now its halls
cleared, an inventory OF the magnificent
property entrusted to its care fully made
its insurance written its attaches appointed
and a roll of membership of respectable
length. 1t has divided the membership
into classes that are to give their attention
to the specific work, each in different di-
rection, Of building up museum. While
the membership is doing this, the direct
ors are to bend their energies TO the found
ing of chairs Of art and science. The Art
Gallery can be made center Of instruc-
ton, and will he. 1t may take much time
to accomplish it, but it must be done.
Here are the tools, now for the workmen.
The several thousand study plates are
ready, and they form a rich collection.
The halls and rooms are prepared, ex-
amplea Of art Of the highest order are in
the Gallery for study. What Is now
needed are the necessary chairs filed by
competent teachers, and this cannot be
done until the endowments are made. 1t il
an opportunity for liberal wealth to erect
to itself an enduring monument, to benefit
the young talent Of the country, and to
elevate public tastes If wealth shall fail
to respond, then by aggregation of many
contributions the necessary sums must be
raised. 1t is a great, worthy work, and
means much for California and Sacramento.
In the meantime the local membership of
the Association has grand opportunities
before it. The geology, mineralogy, flora
and agriculture Of the State; the mount
aims and the valleys; the woods, grains
rivers, lakes and the very air are rich in |
wealth, that may be sampled and brought |
to the proper departments of the Museum. |
It needs only fair amount of energy to
begin the building of the Museum out of
the natural history Of the country The
membership should feel, and unquestion-
ably does feel, high degree of satisfaction
in the privilege to do this work A mu-
scum is of slow growth so far as collections
of mere curioaities and works of art and
are concerned. But so far as
The natural history of the coast is consid-
cred, the local membership should be able
% make a showing at once, and inside Of
hree years have very useful and highly
attractive collection-incomplete, of course,
mt still one Of high value and great va
'icty. Our people should unite with
he working membership, Instead of
orty active and eighty life members,
here should be three hundred of the first
md a thousand of the latter There is
10 reason why all should not engage in and
ontributc to this purely public work, and
which is destined to prove of such value
o the city. Il has also its personal re-
Yards. In the study of the natural his
DRY of the State incident to the labor of
examples of its classes, there
-ill be stimulated IN interest in scientific
tudy, and cultivated a spirit Of inquiry
nd research that will prove of high per-
onal benefit to every one engaging in the ,
'ork While the Association is thus en-
loyed in gathering and discussing the {
Of the natural history Of the
oast, in hearing lectures and in debating
sientihc and intellectual topics, the peo-
lc may aid in the work by contributing,
= loaning for indefinite terms. articles for
ne general museum-antique articles,
nose OF special historic value, those of
range workmanship, cabinets of shells.
linerals and CRYSTALS, rare works of art
yamples of the articles in use BY strange r
copies, etc. All these will 90 to make c.
p the curiosity side of the museum. and II
rye to engage the fancy and curiosity of II
lie people while more important and CT
aching collections are being made. In d
lort, there is now beginning the work of 81
hiding a museum for California, such e'
l institution as is valued in all cities a
assessing one, and guarded with Jealous 81
re. Let us see how freely the people of r'
e city and State will respond to the open n
vitation to aid in the building process. Ct
MICROBIC INCUBATION.
J,oo,,I,.;a., s.. Il i - - - .--- =.