The Times of Thursday gives a very interesting account of
a -country-village museum established by General Pitt-Rivers at Farnham, in North Dorset. It is not a "rubbish-shoot," but a really interesting collection of antiquities, and is arranged to illustrate the history of the district in which it is 'situated. General Pitt-Rivers has also opened a reading and recreation room at Tollard Royal, of a kind which deserves to be widely imitated. As a rule, a village recreation-room is a .very dreary place. That at Tollard Royal, however, is in a building part of which dates from the time of King John, and where " beautiful Stuart oak-panelling" is to be found
still decorating the walls. Besidep, there are pictures arranged to represent the history of painting from its• origin on Egyptian mummy-cases to the present day. The collection includes a Rubens, a Quentin Matey% and a Tintoretto. In addition, there is a charming pleasure-ground, where a band entirely composed Of labourers plays on Sundays, and where has been erected a statue by Sir Edgar Boehm, " The Savage Hunter." The answer to the question, Do the people come ? " is most satisfactory. Last year's books showed that 6,500 people had been to the museum, 14,300 to the pleasure- ground, and over 3,000 to King John's house, which was not open until May. The same names recur constantly in the visitors' book, and the behaviour and order have been per- fectly satisfactory. Most assuredly General Pitt-Rivers has the right to be pleased with his work.
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