CARPETS FOR PICTURE GIILLERIES.
[To THE EDITOR. or THI " SPECrATOI."1 went into the Tate Gallery this morning, and there I found an official lecturer talking to visitors about the pictures. I joined the group and listened for some time to a most interest- ing discourse on Hogarth, Blake, and Cotman. But my enjoy- ment was considerably spoiled by the fact that, standing as did on the outskirts of the group, the lecturer's voice was frequently lost to me in the noise made by the footsteps of other visitors moving about the galleries_ I do not suggest that these other visitors were to blame. It is impossible to walk naturally upon hard, polished floors without waking an echo at every step. But I do suggest that it would add to the pleasure of this and other galleries if carpets were laid along those parts of the floor where the visitor naturally walks, in order to soften the sound of his footfalls. Apart from the question of hearing a lecturer, it has always seemed to me that walking or the hard and noisy floors of our picture galleries is a contribu- tory cause of that fatigue so often complained about as the result of visits which should, on the contrary, be restful and soothing interludes in the workaday of life.—I am, Sir, &c., H. S. BERKELEY. Junior Carlton Club, Pall Mall, S.W. 1, May 10th, 1922.
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