CHAPTER XVIII. 



HELPS OVER HARD PLACES. 



To conduct the work of a local society of natural 

 history like one of our chapters continuously, with no 

 diminution in the membership, and with no break in 

 the interest, is not the easiest matter in the world ; 

 and those who enter upon the work of the Agassiz 

 Association with the expectation of uninterrupted sun- 

 shine are the first to become low-spirited when the 

 inevitable rainy days begin. An intelligent apprehen- 

 sion of the difficulties to be met, and a knowledge of 

 the ways in which these difficulties have been met 

 by others, must be of advantage to all who have re- 

 cently enrolled themselves among us, and to all who 

 are contemplating that action. A wise man, before 

 beginning to build, sitteth down first and counteth 

 the cost. The first trouble which chapters must ex- 

 pect is loss of members. The chief causes of this loss 

 are three ; and, in the order of their frequency, they 

 are removal from town, loss of interest, death. The 

 population of our country is restless, and ten years is 

 a long time for a family to remain in the same town. 

 This is especially true of the younger members of the 

 family, who go from home to school, from school to 

 college, and from college to business or professional 

 activity. Against loss of members from this cause, 

 and from death, there is o remedy ; and,' unless a 

 chapter has taken these inevitable contingencies into 

 previous consideration, it is hard for it to stand the 

 shock of the first removal. The best way to prevent 

 the collapse of a chapter upon the loss of leading 



