152 THREE KINGDOMS. 



While, therefore, we do not undervalue the printed 

 records of others' work, and while we ever recognize 

 in printed books and papers necessary and cherished 

 guides, yet we believe that our first business is to meet 

 Nature face to face. Therefore we leave the confines 

 of the library and school, and go out under the open 

 sky into the forest, and along the stream. Forget- 

 ting theory and useless wrangling, it is our purpose to 

 see things as they are, and to record them as we see 

 them. It is the business of the Agassiz Association 

 to live for the truth. 



Those who first joined our ranks are growing out 

 of childhood into manhood and womanhood. Many 

 adult chapters, too, are forming ; and perhaps to-day 

 one-quarter of our total membership may be over 

 twenty years of age. What can we do for this in- 

 creasing class ? In the first place we can give them 

 the opportunity to help the younger, even as they 

 themselves have been helped while young. It is to 

 them, the scientists of the future, that we must soon 

 look for special help, instruction, and guidance. 

 Meanwhile we need them still among us to encourage 

 us by their example, and to aid us by their work. And 

 we want to help them, too. We must provide higher 

 courses of study discover the best books for students 

 more advanced, and help those who need it to secure 

 the best instruction. I was greatly pleased, while 

 resting by the sea, to find in the laboratory at Annis- 

 quam, among the twenty-five earnest workers who 

 were bending day after day, and night after night, 

 over the dissecting-table and the microscope, no less 

 than seven men and women who either are or have 

 been members of the Agassiz Association. Here is 

 the moral of it : youthful observation of nature, wisely 

 directed, grows into manly and womanly consecration 

 to science. 



