206 Kansas Academy of Science. 



prehension. Theories were easy and plentiful in those days, 

 for the facts were for and easily marshalled, but he would be 

 daring, indeed, who philosophized to-day with the mass of 

 knowledge to classify that demands attention. A great many 

 books were written upon ethnology before the advent of evo- 

 lution, filled with self-satisfied theories, which are of no value 

 now except as curiosities. What a contrast with the spirit of 

 to-day, when vast and sweeping generalizations are unheard of. 

 We are impressed more and more, as the mountain of facts 

 continues to grow, that the time for that is far away. 



We are convinced that anthropology is filled with vast possi- 

 bilities that involve the future well-being of the race. Great 

 problems are to be solved and anthropology is to solve them. 

 The stupendous questions. Whence came we? and Whither are 

 we going? have rung down the ages and are yet unanswered. 

 Can anthropology contribute to their solution? The beautiful 

 laws of evolution have opened to us the laboratories of God, 

 where all things will in time be revealed. Let us therefore 

 stand with unsandaled feet, thankful for what we have been 

 allowed to learn, but deeply humble for the ignorance that still 

 oppresses us. 



