The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-16
KINGS MUSEUM
FOR LONDON

In the proposed scheme to erect a
London museum as a memorial to the
late King Edward, of which | have fire.
quently spoken In these letters, there Is
a genuine London ideal TO work up to.
Londoners who have been supine in
everything except material success in
life have without the aid of enthusiasts
or specialists formulated a conception of
a London museum for London.
The idea comes from London, the ap-
peal is TO London. the scheme is for
London. and there are Londoners en-
lightened enough and proud enough in
the great city TO desire to have this plan
carried through as a worthy memorial
10 Edward VII. Sufficient is known of
the late Kings views on the preservation
or historical remains TO be quite certain
mat such a memorial would have greatly
pleased him. and there is little doubt
that the Kings Museum for London
would be an acceptable gift to offer 20
King George as an expression OF Lon
don's aHectionate remembrance of his
father.
Every city or large town with a his
tory has museum. Edinburgh. Dublin
ana Cardln' the sister capitals of the
United Kingdom, have their museums.
fofk, salisbury. southampton Colches-
ter, Lincoln, Newcastle. Reading Not
tinghan. Norwich, Manchester Rirminp-
ham, 10 mention only a few of the pro-
vincial towns, already are equipped. and
Il Is not pleasant to think that London.
the metropolis, only just now is waking
up 10 the conception that the capital city
or the empire ought TO have this neces-
sary adjunct TO history.
Great credit Is due to the London CITY
corporation for the establishment of its
museum at Guildhall. though now II is
overcrowded TO such an extent as TO make
it valueless for the purpose for which it
had been established. The splendid gift
Of the late Mr.. Horniman, 10 London
county council, of his museum al Forest
Hill, is another nucleus for collecting oh
jects OF London interest The British
museum, also that At South KensingtOn,
IL Is true. have included In their national
collections many objects specially be-
longing 10 London But all OF these CON-
bined do not make up a London museum.
There is not one catalogue for the whole
series OF collections The objects are not
arranged for the purpose of aiding Lon
don's students There is no plan and no
arrangement whereby the Londoner after
studying the priceless historical manu-
scripts which deal with the past of Lon
don, can turn 10 the historical objects
for comparison and for calculation OF
what their past means TO himself and 10
the future citizens whom he is endeavor-
ing 20 educate.
The site OF London has been occupied
by man from paIaeolithic and neolithic
times. and where Drummond's Bank now
stands cave lions roamed and have yield
ed their remains in testimony of their
former existence. London itself began
its history in Celtic days. 1t has yielded
the most magnificent collection of Roman
remains in Britain, and the remarkable
find Of a Roman boat on the new County
Han site is only great addition 10 a
stlll greater collection
Anglo-Sax0n remains. relics Of the
fights all around London, recovered from
the Thames, as well as the relics Of the
Danish occupation and of Norman, Plan
tagenet, Tudor. Stuart. and early GeOr-
Han times also have contributed 10 the
mass OF historical material. which only
awaits a proper housing and scientific
arrangement TO make one OF the most
remarkable museums which a great city
and the center of life and activity can
produce.
Further than this, the private colIec-
ton in London long has been a reeog-
nized feature of London life Bat pri-
vate collections are dispersed and the
record they would have given 10 history.
naturally. is broken and lost. II was
the custom OF a Well-known Putney resi-
dent TO search the banks OF the Thames.
and his collection was great one. The
late Mr.. Price formed a remark
able collection, ranging from the earliest
TO the latest times. His collection al
ready has been safely secured for the
future museum. Local collectors abound
in LondOn-men who care for the things
OF the past, which ofttimes are sent
scattering to the dust heap owing to the
indifference Of the authorities TO the duty
Of preserving history And, finally, thanks
10 the initiative OF Lord Avebury, Lon
don county council has been storing OBJ
jects Of London antiquity for the past
twenty-five years. being able 10 exhibit
a contribution from the collection at the
recent annual japanese exhibition.
with all this wealth Of material 10
build upon, contributions from the ma
tional collections. which, / think, would
be gladly yielded up 10 make better
room for national antiquities. with fur
Their collections of objects illustrative
of Industrial and manufacturing prog
ress not yet begun. with a settled pur-
pose OF a great museum for the public
there is no doubt in my mind that
could not be produced elsewhere. and
what would be a source of delight and
knowledge TO every one who cares for
LOndon's past
The question of suitable site for such
a museum. Of course. is an important ele-
ment in the consideration of a memorial
to King Edward. IL ought TO be placed,
think, on the banks Of the Thames, in the
most historic center OF London. And there
are sites which the wealth OF London
Wei might afford to such an object. That
adjoining the new county hall at once
comes to mind, although there are others
equally suitable which not only would
provide the space that is needed, but
would thus form a beautiful addition 10
London's public buildings. It would be
necessary TO build. A London museum
cannot be contained in adapted houses.
It's extent ought to be such that new coll
lections may be added from time to time
without wholesale disturbance Of the en-
tire museum. Then, there are lone collec-
tons which might be exhibited whenever
they could be obtained. And the exhibits
must be arranged in such a manner that
students or casual visitors may learn as
much from the arrangement as from the
details of each object.
Museum work as il is nowadays is a
science OF considerable Importance, and
very much depends upon the manner in
which objects are displayed in relation 10
the period to which they belong and the
periods which precede and follow. A
haphaZard collection of antiquities no