The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-06
HTHosE amt birds. No birds
could be as big as that. No

could be as big as that. No
birds could be green or
yellow like them. 1 tell you birds are
brown and little. 'cept when they
comes in cages; then they're yellow.
'Tain't true. I've seen billions Of birds
and L tell you they're brown and little"
He was about Z years old and a
very grubby' little person. much re-
sembling the one bird Of his &C
quaintance, the brown street sparrow.
He blinked and shook his head at
the array Of gorgeously feathered
birds in the glass case. His COM
panion, boy of about the same age,
but trifle less grubby, insisted.
AN of them are birds. l know.
Miss Gallup says SO, and there's books
tellin' about them. They are so
birds ..
''Aw, they're stringin' you. just like
they do. bout, fairies and Santa
Claus tell you they amt birds"
You just come along up to Miss
Gallup and she'll tell .yeu," and taking
his reluctant companion by the sleeve
he plotted him up broad staircase
to consult-Miss Gallup.
This took place In the pathological
room OF the Ch!ldren's Museum in
Brooklyn, a place filled with wonders
for the young mind and the first
museum Of its kind in the world.
The museum might we'll be called
the house OF little children. for all day
long their tiny voices are heard to a
running accompaniment of little foot
steps carrying them on the quest for
knowledge. This museum stands in a
select residential section of Brooklyn.
1t once was the Adams mansion, and
q better use could not be found for 1t
than giving 1t over to the use OF
children, for in the family days eleven
boys and girls OF the Adams family
kept the great rooms echoing with
their rnerriment.
In 1908 the grounds were taken
over by the city for Bedford Park and
IL was then that Franklin w. Hooper,
late director Of the Brooklyn Institute
of Fine Arts and Sciences, found the
place he wanted to try out his long
dreamed of Museum for Children, so
the old mansion was leased by the
city to the institute for this purpose,
and II at that time there was the
slightest trace or the austerity about
II SO frequently felt in museums for
adults. the last Of 1t is now gone, for
the children are absolutely free to
come and go as they wish. The
museum Is theirs and not the slightest
restriction is placed on them.
~ INV nna dptibtS fnr q y,,oyOant No
this museum is appreciated by chill
dren the fact that 100000 children
visited 1t last year will change such
an opinion. This number of little ones
used the museum in one way or an
other, but on the membership lists OF
the two important clubs It is shown
that the Tree Club can boast of 5000
members, while the Museum League
shows membership OF $500 boys
and girls. While still speaking Of the
number of children using the museum,
a glance at the records shows that in
a year $4,000 have used the library,
and 10000 attended lectures. while in
a single day as high as 5000 children
have been known to study the exhibits.
The Uses of the Museum.
Before one has visited Brooklyn one
In tempted to wonder what the special
use of a museum for children can be,
But short time spent there con-
vinces one that grown up museums
. like grown up clothes and grown I'D
books are n ludicrous misfit for little
people. The exhibits have been care
fully selected and displayed to meet
The needs and comprehension OF the
1oys ard girls. So careful has been
his selection that In the house there
splendid reference library and
specimens enough to afford opportu-
nifty for quite extensive study OF eight
subjects: Animal, aquarium, insect,
bird, mineral, botany, history and
geography.
Children are not forced to Join the
Museum League or to undertake q
special branch OF study; this rests en-
tireiy with the individual.
II a child selects a subject for study
he may begin work at his convenience
and spend as much time as he pleases
81 any course. At the completion OF
each course he Is entitled TO a certifi-
cate OF credits which count toward a
~nledat- r'-bfohzu- nfedar is >awurdetf1
for nifty credits and "A silver medal for
100 credits, ana II there is any one
VINO thinks the examinations for such
:, aau.-,o .ls.,nI. A.