54. Opening Address. [Sess. 



known. I do not mean by this, that before they can hope to 

 make some new discovery they must have a thorough know- 

 ledge of every branch of a great subject. If they have little 

 leisure, they will find it possible, with an ordinary amount of 

 general knowledge of a subject, to take up one branch of 

 ■it, and excel in their knowledge of this branch in a way quite 

 surprising to their fellow-men, and this without such great 

 effort as may be supposed requisite. While in a general sense 

 we may take it as an axiom that men with a university train- 

 ing are much more capable of undertaking original research 

 than those who have not had similar advantages, or are only 

 self - taught, still there are so many striking exceptions to 

 this rule in every field of study, that one is almost led to 

 doubt if such great advantages accrue from this special train- 

 ing after all, unless it is combined with an earnest determina- 

 tion to make life a success in some particular department of 

 study or work. In far too many instances parents lavish 

 great expense upon a training that is quite unsuitable for 

 the development of the energies, mental or otherwise, of sons 

 or daughters. Young people who have had a good education 

 to begin with, would, in most instances, be much better to be 

 encouraged in the particular line of study to which their 

 inclinations point, instead of being forced to cram with know- 

 ledge of a kind they do not like or appreciate, only to suit the 

 eager desires or ambitions of a parent. 



Life is too short and too earnest with most of us, to warrant 

 that even a single hour should be misspent. It is therefore 

 necessary that each of us should form, as early as possible in 

 our career, some definite ideas of what we are best adapted 

 for, and direct our studies accordingly. Now, while what 

 I have said applies to every course in life, to-night you must 

 look upon yourselves as strictly Field Naturalists. May I ask 

 you to try and apply what I have said to your daily life, 

 whether in the field, or in your homes studying the results of 

 your field work. For my own part, I believe that if a 

 man makes up his mind to succeed in life, with God's help he 

 will; but he must be patient, and have a strong and fixed 

 determination. This, properly exercised, will carry him 

 through every difficulty. He will be stepping out when 

 other men are resting : once give him a start, and he will 



