REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, I906. 37 



time and with a limited income. Altho the work of the Institution is in a 

 pecuHar degree novel and untrammeled, it is yet subject, properly enough, 

 to the restrictions set by human experience and by contemporary society. 

 Hence, if the reviewer of the Year Books finds reason to complain of a 

 bewildering array of technical details, he should reflect that this array is far 

 less than a host of investigators would like to have it. If the humanist or 

 the scientist finds reason to complain that little or no aid has been given to 

 him or to his special field of research by the Institution, he may derive com- 

 fort from the fact that he is one of an overwhelming majority necessitated 

 by the limitations of available resources. And if the bibliophile has found 

 reason for dissatisfaction in the distribution of the publications of the Insti- 

 tution, he may be disposed to be lenient with the latter on learning that he 

 is one of many thousands soliciting favors. 



Out of this plexus of internal and external relations and interrelations it 

 is the duty of the administrative branch of the Institution to evolve, so 

 far as practicable, such a degree of order and system as will best promote 

 productive and thoro work of research, and at the same time to restrict, so 

 far as practicable, an unproductive or wasteful expenditure of energy and 

 resources. Altho progress towards an adequate fulfilment of this duty must 

 be of necessity slow in order to be sure, it is believed that distinct advances 

 are accumulating, and that the obvious difficulties and dangers which beset 

 the development of so novel an institution are only such as may be overcome 

 by a reasonable application of time and patience. 



