The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-24

Of which he was unconscious, the
Jacobin party"
The worries of the museum directors
do not appear to end with the acquisi-
ton OF sufficient treasures to make
the public eager to attend. Indeed, all
sorts of devices are tried to lure the
spectators in to see what ought to
afford them the keenest pleasure.
Maybe the visitors are delighted once
they cross the threshold of art. Get
ting them in may be the trouble.
At all events the president of the
British Museum OF Fine Arts, Morris
Gray. has been giving the public the
result of his efforts to make art demo-
cratic. In his annual report he said:
"Our museums OF fine art have an
important part to play in the develop
ment Of the things of the spirit; and
surely they are eager to serve as best
they may that great cause. In further
ance of that service your president
recommends that the museum con-
tinue the free opening that 1t estab-
lished In the days of war. so that 1t
may give to those who need them the
inspiration and sympathy OF all that
it possesses. and that the museum
broaden its service SO that 1t may give,
at least to some degree, the inspiration
and sympathy that other arts than
those represented In its collections are
privileged to give.
AT the annual meeting on January
IT, 1918, the trustees voted that the
museum should be open free until fur
Their notice. 1t was not believed that
this action would increase very ma
terially the number of visitors, partly
because those who had hitherto come
on free days, Saturdays and Sundays,
would probably find little time or
inclination to come again during the
week. It was believed that free
opening would develop a sounder, a
deeper and eventually a larger In
terest In the museum through the
substitution of equality Of privilege
in place of the constant difrerentia-
ton between those who pay and
those who do not pay-that equal
ity of privilege which is such an es-
sential element in the value of a great
public park or a great public library.
And lastly, despite the financial loss,
1t was felt that the museum should no
longer sell the help that II was able to
render, but that 1t should make that
help free to all, believing that this was
the least, as in a certain sense It
was the greatest, service that the
museum could render in those tragic
days.
"Are there other ways in which the
museum can render a substantially
larger service7 Your president has
considered various possibilities OF the
development of the collections, but has
felt that at this time the museum can
not wisely spend the money for such
additions and cannot suitably or sue
cessfully ask others to give it. Yet he
believes that the museum can to-day
render a substantially larger service.
although he recognizes that this in
wolves a change OF long established
policy. Hitherto the museum has
treated itself as an institution solely
devoted to exhibition and to the related
education. But to-day, when men
everywhere have given up wholly or in
part their regular occupations that
they may help their country in any
here, should not the museum consider
the wisdom OF a broader yet kindred
service2 Might It not welcome its sis
ter arts as guests within its home in
the belief that with their assistance II
can better serve the community? It
is not intended that this proposed SER
vice be in substitution or that II be In
any degree coequal with that which the
museum now renders. It is intended
to be only an additional service which
the museum lie in certain respects ex-
ceptionally qualified to give. Thought
and experience will show the best form
Of this additional service. II may be
through lectures that breathe the great
ideals OF poetry or of architecture. 1t
may be through concerts. however sim
pie, that breathe the great spirit of
musio-held. for instance, on Sunday
afternoons in the lecture hall. or, bet
ter still. in the tapestry hall.
"Strong objections can be made
against this change OF policy. II may
we'll be urged that the museum ought