17 JANUARY 1925, Page 9

A CIVIC SENSE IN ENGLAND : MUSEUMS WE OUGHT TO

HAVE

BY BAssETT DIGBY, F.R.G.S.

[The series of articles on a Civic Sense which the Spectator has lately published has brought us this plea for one definite reform all over the country, a reform which applies to the village as well as to the town. We are in hearty agreement with Mr. Digby's aims.—En. Spectator.] I'VE seen a number of things that England does best," an American friend told me the other day. " But, say, what does she do worst ? "

" Museums—outside London," I answered without hesitation. " The very word strikes a chill into the warm humanity of our race. It suggests ugly, badly- lit rooms in which are dumped a meaningless assortment of faded foreign birds, some hundredweight of dusty fossils, a few badly stuffed and moth-eaten beasts, some pale, decaying things in jars that might be snakes or eels, dusty and muddled shells scattered on cardboard box lids, and some wall cases of disintegrating foreign butter- flies among whom voracious mites have established a dominion rather than a mere colony. There is no attempt at placing exhibits that need good light in the best light or at making the labels—if, indeed, there are any labels—instructive and readable. And no special stress is laid on local flora and fauna." It Will be years yet, I suppose, before it will dawn on the trustees of provincial museums that it is their duty,' and should be their pleasure) to insist that an interesting and talkative little typewritten label be placed on every exhibit. You can find exhibition cases in even a great London museum, which I could specify, that look as if their contents had been shot out of a dust cart, and have looked like that for years, to the chagrin of collectors who have given their treasures to the nation.

Of late years there has been a great revival of interest in our flora and fauna. Parents spend pounds on illustrated books that tell their children and themselves about the birds and flowers, the reptiles and fish and insects, of our lovely country-side. Why ever do they not get together and form really interesting local museums where anyone can go to identify a flower, moth or bird that is seen in the locality ? It is not necessary, or desirable, to have the museum in the cavernous depths of the Town Hall, at the mercy of Urban District Coun- cillors. In every town or country district that cannot afford to buy an army but there is some man interested in natural history who has a downstairs room, a shed or a conservatory to which he could admit visitors on certain afternoons or evenings. The local experts on birds, plants, reptiles, insects, archaeology and geology would be able to take it in turn to act as host, at times that suited them. A small charge, say 3d., should be levied for admission, and local residents should be asked to subscribe -half a crown a year. This revenue would be applied to the expenses of upkeep.

What the committee of the local museum should set their faces against uncompromisingly is receiving and harbouring the inevitable litter of stuffed tropical birds, dingy fossils from heaven knows where, and curiosities which old Uncle William brought home from China that will be offered it by well-wishers. Remember that your museum should be simply and solely a means of mirroring and explaining the fauna, flora, geology and antiquities of your own neighbourhood. Let me hasten to state that this does not imply that you are to go out and shoot the local golden oriole and uproot the rare ferns. Loot procured by this kind of vandalism should be refused. Type examples of your local rarities can readily be procured from London or foreign dealers, or 'by exchange ; or photographs and water-colour sketches, copied from standard works, can picture them. In your museum there would be a little library of lent and given-books to be consulted, and charts of interesting appearance and events in the zoological and botanical world to be looked for each month. Every specimen— this is of the highest importance—should be fully and interestingly labelled. A typewritten card should tell mot merely the name of the object but several things about it and the name of its donor. Silly superstitions should be exploded. The dragonfly cards should explain, for instance, that dragonflies do not sting or otherwise harm you. The same assurance should be given of the pond newts and little lizards. Most country people firmly believe that the toad has a poisonous tongue that " stings " you. The good caterpillars which beautify our country-side and the " bad " caterpillars -which devour our roses and cabbages and nasturtiums should be mounted and ranged side by side. Infor- mation should be given about all the quaint little beasties -of our gardens—the ladybirds, the silverfish, the leaf- ,cutter bees, the earwigs and millipedes. Except where there is a risk of a rare species being wiped out exact details should be given on the label of just where every specimen was taken.

Where possible an attempt should be made to keep some -live exhibits, such as snakes, caterpillars, queer lichens, odd fungi and strange flowers. Printed bills telling strangers about the museum should be placed on the neighbouring railway stations, notice-boards and hoardings, and visitors to your district should be assured of a warm welcome.

See what a difference a museum of this.kind will make to a neighbourhood. Instead of walking, blindfold and unheeding, through the familiar fields and lanes that often seem dull, you and your children will find them vivid with charm and significance. -Here grows the spotted orchis. Over there, -beyond that thymey -.bank, is the haunt of the lovely scarlet -tiger moth. In yonder spinney frolics the gold-crested wren. So that is hemp agrimony—you always -wondered ; and by the Manor Farm gate nest the queer little leafcutter bees. There is a story now in nearly every yard of your parish, a story to which you and all your neigh- bour's friends have contributed.