ANTHROPOLOGY IN THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. 559 



trast refened to. For while a dead lauguage may iudeed be studied, 

 the investigation of a living language secures to a greater degree a com- 

 prehension of its fundamental elements, than the mere study of authors, 

 each one of whom expresses his own individuality. So that we lose 

 sight of the fact that this individuality of the author studied can not 

 be the portrait of the thoughts of the people to whom he belongs. On 

 this account we notice with especial gratitude the efforts along that 

 line, which are gradually spreading throughout all Austria and of which 

 the late Crown Prince Rudolf was the acknowledged leader. 



Extensive labors were carried on under his direction and by reason 

 of his personal participation in them promised to yield rich returns of 

 trustworthy reports taken from life concerning, the nationalities of 

 Austria. To-day the ]>lace is vacant in which he hoped to stand; at 

 the throne we were considering the establishment of this congress; 

 and it is fitting that I should voice the sorrow of all on account of the 

 loss which this great country has sustained in him who seemed to be 

 one of the most humane princes of this century. We trust that the 

 idea bequeathed tons in his words will not be lost, but prove a precious 

 heritage to Austria, which will be carried on by her to completion. It 

 will be our aim to do all in our power to foster a spirit of union with 

 our neighbors, which is so essential to the success of such an under- 

 taking. 



In the dei)artiuent of archaeology, you have made large advances 

 during the last few years, completely over shadowing the rather slow 

 progress of former years, which caused at times a little feeling of im- 

 patience in the bosom of your superintendent. Those of us who saw 

 yesterday your new buildings and your finely arranged collections were 

 obliged to ground their weapons. We can not longer keep up our 

 rivalry in view of such magnificence and completeness. Such a palace 

 of science as your Imperial Natural Historic Museum can be found no- 

 where else, and we too though strangers, must praise most highly the 

 beneficent plans of His Majesty the Emperor, as well as of the Govern- 

 ment, which have been executed in such an admirable manner. Here 

 we find revealed the incredible riches of pre-historic materials belonging 

 to Austria. Scarcely can there be found anywhere else a museum sur- 

 passing this one. 



We are always sure to see in Austria, every possible effort made to 

 put into execution any views which have fully gained ascendancy. I 

 hope therefore that under the direction of Mr. von Hauer, with the 

 assistance of such accomplished investigators as are here to be found, a 

 further (leveloi)ment of the prehistoric archaeology of Austria may take 

 l)lace and reach such a degree of perfection that the different branches 

 of local types will be arranged into a comprehensive whole. 



Several years ago we differed widely concerning the interpretation 

 of certain local finds. At that time the most noted Austrian investi- 

 gators thought that the original seat of European civilization must 



