Ivi Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



revelation of the universe in which he lives and of the nature 

 and the methods of God's government. This enrichment of 

 the human spirit, from sources unknown through countless 

 centuries of human life, has been present in some degree and 

 in some men ever since the Renaissance. But it has been ex- 

 tended to the whole race of men and known to the world as 

 the gift of science for a short time only, hardly longer than the 

 half century whose close we commemorate to-night. The 

 real significance of that half century to human life is in this 

 transformation of its inner temper by the spirit of science ; 

 and in your part in that transformation lies the real value of 

 your work as an Academy. 



A few years ago one of the European academies celebrated 

 its entrance upon a new century. The inscription on its 

 commemorative medal presents the thought with which I 

 would close. 



" Humanitatis florem alleri tradens aetati.^^ 



These are the words which I would leave with you as you 

 turn from this jubilee anniversary to enter upon the tasks 

 brought by a new half century. Your high privilege, as well 

 as your duty, is to cultivate and to pass on from generation 

 to generation that flower of the human spirit, in which its 

 knowledge and power alike find best expression; that latest, 

 that best gift of God to man — science. 



The Toastmaster : — 



On account of, perhaps, some little nervousness, due to the 

 fact that my experience in the performance of such duties is 

 somewhat limited, I passed over the subject of gifts — pre- 

 sentations to the Academy, without allowing of other oppor- 

 tunities. The Academy of Science of Davenport has recently 

 received by will of one of its members, a sum of money 

 amounting to something like seven hundred thousand dollars. 

 The income from part of it is to be used during the life of 

 some of the relatives of the donor, for their purposes, but on 

 their death, the entire sum is to be given to the Academy of 

 Sciences of Davenport, which becomes, therefore, the most 



