44 
trinated with a way of life which goes back to the cave and the 
jungle. Thus is being created the most serious aspect of the 
struggle, which will have to be fought out for many years after 
the shooting is over. 
The chief way in which this battle of ideas and ideals can be 
won is by the method of St. Paul, of overcoming evil with good. 
When the battle of tanks and planes has been won then, writes 
Gregor Ziemer,' “behind the military array we will perceive a 
younger army, even more fanatic than the soldiery of now; and 
se 
this army too must be vanquished. . . Never did a part of 
the human race face so formidable and so serious an educational 
challenge as is here presented. Our first obligation is to preserve 
and perfect in our own land the educational aims, methods, and 
ideals which characterize our civilization and our way of life. 
They constitute the most precious inheritance of the human race. 
The challenge is to every educational agency—our elementary and 
high schools, of course, our colleges, universities, and technical 
schools, our museums and botanic gardens, 
Our second obligation is to continue the educational responsi- 
bility to improve, to augment, and to disseminate this heritage 
among men; if it is allowed to languish or die out, any victory of 
ours of tanks and bombs is futile. The Botanic Garden has a part, 
however modest, in this opportunity and responsibility, and feels 
fully justified in asking the continuing and generous support that 
is necessary to enable it to carry on its program as an essential 
and integral part of the world conflict that now rages. 
GENERAL ATTENDANCE 
The turnstiles at the entrance gates registered a total attendance 
for the year of 1,660,046. For 1941 the figures were 1,753,381— 
a decrease of 93,335. This figure is rather encouraging when 
compared with the figures of other semi-public institutions of 
greater New York. A “Recapitulation’’ of comparative attend- 
ance, compiled by the Museums Council of New York City, shows 
an increased attendance for 1942 over 1941 only for two privately 
'Ziemer, Gregor. \ducation for death. Oxford University Press. 1941. 
P. 194 
