1909] Dr. Fletcher as a Leader. 217 



Not only was Dr. Fletcher one of the founders and organizers 

 of the Club as well as Leader all these years, but he also contrib- 

 uted many articles and papers to our transactions. The 

 first paper in our first volume was by him. This was his inaugural 

 address delivered on 24th November, 1879, which is a master- 

 piece written by a master-mind. What an appeal this was to us 

 to work up the natural history of Ottawa and its environs! 

 Let cverv member who can, read this address once more and 

 receive the inspiration which he instilled into his hearers those 

 many years ago. To quote from this address will be to give 

 in his own words the keynote of all his endeavors in the field 

 of Nature about Ottawa. In speaking of the newly-formed 

 Field-Naturalists' Club, he said: — 



"One of the chief benefits bestowed by an organization, 

 such as ours, is that it enables one always to know where to 

 find a sympathetic companion. Of all recreations, there is 

 none, to mv mind, more enjovable than a walk in the country 

 with a congenial friend. No kind of intercourse brings you 

 into closer contact with a companion than taking a walk. You 

 cannot take ten steps, even with a stranger, without feeling a 

 necessitv of saying something, and if there is anything in a man, 

 you can soon bring it out of him in a country walk. Now, it 

 is very clear that a judicious choice with regard to your com- 

 panion is a most important matter; but it is not always easy 

 to find one who has the same tastes or takes an interest in the 

 same subjects as yourself." 



In speaking of a naturalist, he said: — 



"No one looks upon the world so kindly as he does; no 

 one else gives so much to, or takes so much enjoyment from, 

 the country as he does, and he holds a more vital relation to 

 Nature, because he is freer, and his mind is more at leisure. 

 Moreover, when a naturalist gets a friend, who is not one, out 

 in the country, he feels a sort of moral responsibility resting 

 upon him to find something particularly interesting to point 

 out, so as to arouse his curiosity, and, if possible, to convert 

 him to the study of 'La Belle Science.' I say particularly 

 interesting, because everything in Nature is interesting and 

 beautiful; and I defy anyone to bring me a single object, 

 picked up by a country roadside, which is not beautiful, and 

 even exquisitely so — a stick, a piece of straw, a leaf, or a stone, 

 it matters not what, if properly examined and understood, they 

 are all wonderful and lovely." 



After describing a number of commonplace objects and 

 showing their beauty and attractiveness, he goes on: — • 



"The reason I have dwelt at such length this evening on 

 these objects is to endeavor to point out that there is nothing, 



