Page:The museum, (Jackson, Marget Talbot, 1917).djvu/74

The number of people who take advantage of this service is really astonishing. People even go there just for meals, but as the restaurant is cunningly situated at the farthest point from both entrances, going there just for meals necessitates passing through a number of the most interesting galleries in the museum, and the hungry wayfarer cannot help absorbing a certain amount of art as he passes by. Restaurants in museums do not need to be on this lavish scale. Even a small room where nothing but tea and sandwiches are served is a great help and a great rest. Some provision should be made for the staff of the museum. The ideal condition would, of course, be to have a small dining room for the use of the staff only, where smoking could be allowed if desired, and another room which should be open to the general public. Museums are usually situated at too great a distance from any centre for it to be possible for the staff to go out to luncheon and return within the usual one hour at noon. Cooking by electricity is the ideal arrangement, but this is usually too expensive to be practical and gas forms a useful substitute.