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the use of fire, even such a building as the Chipman house could be made fairly fire-proof. The second and most obvious objection is the expense of acquisition, alterations and maintenance. Here is the opportunity for the public-spirited citizen of means, the one, I venture to assert, who would not be found wanting at such a juncture in most of the neighboring states. If the building could thus be acquired by gift, the means for its alteration would, no doubt, be obtainable in part from the citizens of the city, and in part from the province, which might properly contribute to an object of such provincial importance. The city of St. John could well afford to pay for its annual maintenance, partly for its worth as a feature of its educational system, and partly for more material reasons, namely, for the return it would bring to the city through its additional attractiveness to tourists. The tourist associations could not have a better advertisement than this for their circulars, one vastly more effective than the present generalities to which they are confined. Or if the establishment of such a museum in an old building like the Chipman house seemed unwise or impracticable, it might well be arranged in connection with the new Public Library building, which must before long be provided. As to objects for the museum collections, these would not all come immediately, but experience elsewhere shows that when once such a museum is established there is a tendency for historical objects to set towards it, the more especially when the current is aided by the efforts of a persistent and diplomatic committee.