FIRST ANNUAL BANQUET. 141 



An endowment of this character will be universally acknowledged by 

 every true scientist, not only as a beautiful and just tribute to Natural 

 Science, but as an act, that in its broad appreciation of the value of 

 science, has lifted up human nature nearer towards Him who made our 

 beautiful world " and all that is therein." 



I am very truly yours, 



J. A. LiNTNER. 



West Chester, Pknna., May 6, 1890. 



My Dear Sir: Will you be kind enough to thank the Trustees of the 

 Missouri Botanical Garden for their invitation to be present at the An- 

 nual Banquet held May 26th in honor of the Founder : Henry Shaw. 



Time and distance prevent my acceptance of the honor. I thank the 

 memory of the founder for the impetus thus given to American botany : 

 for the enduring basis upon which he placed his benefaction : for the 

 example he has left to otlier men of means to be equally large-minded 

 and liberal towards humanizing studies : and lastly for the possibility, 

 thus provided, of having in our own land at least one such institution 

 which shall compare favorably in size and productiveness with anything 

 in Europe. 



Believe me, sir, I am faithfully yours, 



J. T. ROTHROCK, 



Prof . of Botany in University of Pa. 



The Chairman then called upon Dr. Farlow, of Harvard 

 University, as follows : — 



Gentlemen: The method and first step of all science, 

 at least since the days of Lord Bacon, is to ascertain 

 and classify the facts from which it may deduce gen- 

 eral laws. There are various modes of conducting scientific 

 investigations. I dare say you all remember the old story 

 of the prize offered by some academy of natural history for 

 the best description of a camei, and of the various methods 

 adopted by those who competed for it. The story was first 

 told, — I am afraid it was invented, — by an English- 

 man. At any rate, he said that among the competitors 

 or the prize were an Englishman, a Frenchman, and a Ger- 

 man. The Englishman went to Arabia, abundantly pro- 

 vided not only with ammunition, but every creature comfort 

 and convenience, employed numerous native guides and 



