Digitised Manuscripts and Books

they are accessible to the general public. Though not bles © Q with much artistic sense or endowed with much refinement or diserimination the masses take great pleasure in spending afternoon gazing on the presentments of their national heroes , and , though perhaps in a minor degree, on Egyp- tian , Greek , or Roman antiquities , and the graceful compos- itions of the French eighteenth century . And besides being a source of pleasure to the masses they serve a valuable educa- - 34 ee | WI)¥ wits Qa ay sata ~~, 4. ~— e mr .) o ao SLoOnaL | spur ‘reat artists go to museums for fresh inspiration while the struggling members of the craft find Lae thene the means of improving their knowledge and taste, they can study there the models they desire to’ copy, nd are provided with the standards by which they can measure their own efforts. To architects, skilled workmen, cabinet makers, even to dressmakers and hairdressers , a museum affords a source of new ideas which never fails. Pinally it may be said that museums preserve works of art for the countries which have long been their home . Of late , we in England hé had too many examples of great works crossing the Channel not to rej- oice that they should be no longer exposed to the predatory _—— aA = nis, Slice may ies the bulk of from abroad it is Only faire¢that theyvshould sorback toether lands Tron whence hey owed their existence . Still we they ro) can only derive a poor consolation from that reflection .It is possible that some few of those which are now leaving our shores may onee more find their way back again , but those £02