Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/242

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THE MUSEUM

where a rebuke is to be administered it must be done with tact and discretion. A visitor often unwittingly does something he should not do, and in this event is much taken aback when spoken to abruptly. The museums have lost many friends through rudeness of the custodians. The number of custodians needed depends upon the character of the collections and the number of visitors. For the most part, one man can safely guard three rooms provided they open into each other with doors opposite. In case of crowds, two rooms are perhaps all that should be given to one man, largely on account of danger of vandalism, as the possibility of theft is minimized by a crowd. It would be well to have the custodians instructed and drilled as to what should be done, in case of fire or a panic, in controlling crowds, and what objects are most valuable, should it be necessary to remove them. To have the custodians take turns in assisting the gallery man in changing exhibitions of pictures and other objects is very important, as in that way they become familiar with handling the works of art.

The number of janitors required varies with the size of the museum, but it may be stated as fairly proportioned if there are half as many janitors as guards. In some cases this will prove too large a number. The janitors take care of