86 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [March 



formerly attainable only by the very few. Especially might we 

 point to these in the mother country, but they are not entirely 

 absent in this Dominion, even with a sparse population of compar- 

 aratively scant leisure and opportunities. For where first stood 

 the primeval forest in which roamed only savage man and wild 

 beasts, now rise large cities, important centres of commerce, 

 pleasant villages and smiling hamlets ; where formerly prevailed 

 unbroken stillness and solitude is now heard the busy hum of 

 industrv, the cheerful sound of civilized man's labour in his work 

 Siiops and in his factories, with his labour saving implements and- 

 machines and engines, and his countless devices for multiplying 

 force and velocity, all originating in science and directed by 

 science, the friend of art and the guide of industry. Where the 

 Indian canoe slowly bore its untutored occupant in his short 

 journeys on the bosom of onr noble streams, now rides the majestic 

 steamboat carrying its hundreds of passengers hundreds of miles, 

 even through a night's sleep, on their errands of business, pleasure 

 and duty ; where on the banks of these streams could only be seen 

 a few rude wigwams approached by the narrow bridle path or 

 painful trail, now stand thousands of commodious houses and 

 palatial mansions, everywhere connected with broad and easy 

 roads or well furnished railways, along which rushes the mighty 

 locomotive, so fearful in its energy and power, with its freight of 

 human beings, and all that ministers to their wants in distant 

 settlements, speeding on its way through tunnelled hills and 

 mountains, over the marvellous tubular and suspension bridges 

 that hang over gorges of dizzy depths ; following the telegraph 

 wire, along which the lightning with its proper rapidity conveys 

 man's messages, wishes and behests ; over the canals that science 

 has substituted for rivers not navigable ; along rich corn fields 

 and beautiful gardens replete with lovely flowers, luscious fruits 

 and perfumed exotics, all multiplied and improved by scientific 

 culture ; such are some of the results which science, applied to 

 the arts, has obtained for us in Canada ; and there is not one of 

 her sons or daughters who may not yet aid in further developing 

 these blessed results. 



But, it is no mere material, grovelling earthly science that we 

 laud and . advocate in this Institution, but a science whose eye 

 alternates between earth and heaven ; — below, seeking the advan- 

 cement and good of humanity ; above, finding communion with 

 the Great Creator and Architect of all ; acquiring the fuller 



