164 THE AGE OF ELECTRICITY. 



And yet America occupies eA^eu now a place of honor in astronomical 

 discoveries, and her share grows greater every day. Besides, every 

 science is rapidly progressing there, and her scientists of the first rank 

 are multiplying. There will soon be nothing except history for which 

 the United States can envy the nations of the old continents. 



You will no doubt hold that it is a grand sight to behold a people 

 against whom the charge of avarice and of immoderate lust of gain is 

 readily brought, show themselves so universally considerate of the 

 public weal and achieve such results either through the continuous 

 action of the citizens or through princely foundations, whether it be a 

 question of charitable institutions, model hospitals, fine arts, juimary 

 or trade schools, institutions for the training of engineers or machinists, 

 or of institutions of learning for the intellectual elevation of the mind, 

 and all without any design for commercial gain. Men of pluck and 

 daring make fortunes in a short time. They are not to the same extent 

 as we are intent on letting their heirs i)rofit by the whole of their 

 wealth. In the same manner as titles of nobility are sought after else- 

 where, they have at heart to perpetuate their names by enduring deeds 

 that will do good to the community or honor to the country. 



Are our efforts in that direction to be comj)ared with those, even 

 though we may take into consideration all the liberal gifts it would be 

 unfair to ignore? Do not those w^ho are among the foremost favorites 

 of fortune, either by grace of their ancestors or through personal indus- 

 try, experience greater difficulty, as I look upon it from some distance, 

 in putting their wealth to good use than they ever had in coming by it? 



I am well aware of the fact that the greater number of institutions 

 in our country are under State control and that no one thinks much of 

 giving to the State, because such donations are merged in the ocean 

 of appropriations. The French Association is free from such objec- 

 tions. It is a private institution, founded by men of honest purpose 

 whose object was the advancement of science for the good name of the 

 country. It promotes that purpose by calling these meetings, so fraught 

 with good results, that bring us together at various parts of our terri- 

 tory. It strives to assist single-handed investigators and applies the 

 best part of its resourses to such assistance. It lacks none of the requi- 

 sites that should receive the attention of donors and it deserves to 

 attract it. We already find great encouragement in our circumstances. 

 The total receipts from donations, bequests, and founders' shares exceed 

 1,000,000 francs at the present time. It is propei' to separate therefrom 

 the legacies of Messrs. Brunet, Legroux, Fontarive, and Girard (this 

 latter being set apart for the section of anthropology), which aggregate 

 over 400,000 francs. 



If I may be allowed to throw out a hint for those who may be 

 encouraged by these examples, I would suggest that the nature of the 

 investigations they intend to further be not defined with too narrow 

 preciseness. We need not fear that we might be required to maintain 



