Milestones y 



pursuits, and without the approbation of the public mind, which re- 

 garded them as busy trijlers." 



The revolution in the public attitude and the absorbing interest 

 of the present generation in "the course of Nature" are there for 

 all to see. It is difficult for us to conceive the dispiriting conditions, 

 so vividly described by our original member, the indifference and 

 contempt which our naturalists had to face 100 years ago. Such, 

 however, was the atmosphere in which the Boston Society of Nat- 

 ural History was born. 



The Third Milestone 



THE problem of finance made an early demand on the attention 

 of the pioneers. In March, 1833, the Society rented what is de- 

 scribed as "the hall over the Savings Bank in Tremont Street." A 

 course of lectures for the winter 1833-34 was arranged and we are 

 told that "the Committee considered it expedient to pay $15 for 

 each lecture." How far removed are we in these days from that scale 

 of remuneration ! 



At one of the meetings of the Council of the Society in this year, 

 the President, Mr. B. D. Greene, expressed a strong desire that a 

 fund of $5,000 might be raised, the interest of which should be 

 devoted to paying the rent bills incurred by the Society. He wished 

 that we might feel independent and thought with such provision 

 against indebtedness there would be no doubt of success. He then 

 pledged himself ready to furnish s500 for this object. Mr. Charles 

 Amory likewise pledged himself to raise $400. "Nothing further," 

 says the chronicler, "seems to have been done towards the creation 

 of such a fund." However, in spite of this lapse from generous grace, 

 the faith and enthusiasm of its members kept the Society alive until 



