I always enjoy your contributions, Peter, and I was especially taken with


your reply to John on the vividness of the museum experience and your
definition of museum as 'machines to raise curiosity and enthusiasm'.
 That moment when you're with a group of visitors, of whatever age, and


some face lights up like a switched-on torch, and you know you've turned


on another passion, is sheer magic.  Thomas Aquinas held that the mind
engaged in the pursuit of knowledge was one of the highest forms of joy


and I think he was pretty spot on.

Anyway, I've circulated your e-mail around our department, and we will
use it as a kick-off for a discussion session.

Many thanks and good wishes

Heleanor

"I'm mad, you're mad; we wouldn't be here if we weren't"
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