200 ANNUAL EEPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 



help industry, seeking only for special results. Your enthusiastic 

 and generous spirit cares only for knowledge. It was for that rea- 

 son that when as a young man I had the good fortune of making 

 your acquaintance, I was charmed at first sight. Our long corre- 

 spondence, far from altoi-ing those first impressions, confirmed them 

 into a definite judgment. 



None of the large currents of ideas which liave furrowed the 

 scientific onward flow of our times has found you indifl'erent. You 

 have been interested in all of them; have followed them when you 

 have not been in the front. It has been not only with kindliness 

 that 3'ou have looked into the first researches of the younger scien- 

 tists. From my own experience, you have not been sparing in your 

 encouragement and have guided them with good counsel. In science 

 you have been not only a creator but also an inspirer. Your per- 

 sonal influence has passed bej'ond the frontiers of your land. In- 

 spirer — that is the title which fits you, for it hints the radiance of 

 a creative power. 



A savant, without doubt, can know of no greater joy than to see 

 assembled about him in worshipful mood his disciples and friends. 

 I bring to you, my dear Brauner, not only proof of m}^ own per- 

 sonal admiration and affection but also that of a great number of 

 distant friends. The Chemical Society of France expresses through 

 my voice the feelings they have for their honorary member. I am 

 very proud of this mission as the authorized representative of this 

 French societj^, for within it has been developed during more than 

 half a century a large share of international chemistry. On many 

 an occasion there has been presented before it to the scientific world 

 important results due to Czech researches. It pays homage to 

 your scientific work and takes pleasure in giving you public testi- 

 mony of its great esteem. This homage is addressed to j^ou very 

 personally; it would have been given without regard to nationalit3\ 

 But the French have always been friends of the Czechs, and 

 to-day that friendship is doubled through an alliance, a reciprocal 

 gauge of security. Now that a sincere desire for peace and justice 

 at last appears to influence the world, such an alliance should prove 

 a mutual aid in the economical and intellectual evolution of the two 

 peoples. The French chemists wish to forge between themselves 

 and the Czech chemists intimate bonds passing the bounds of 

 friendly courtesy. They feel convinced tliat you shaie the desire. 

 Such intimacy will favor the growth of international science and 

 through that aid in the development in all nations of the germs of 

 reciprocal esteem. 



Finally, the president of the International Commission of Ele- 

 ments renders homage to its dean, who has been one of the most 



