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other liaiuT, "What can I learn tliat others do not know? " This 

 seems to me to lie the key-note of ihe whole, and it is a 

 matter that deserves our mcjst serious attention, as Ave are being 

 continually brought face to face with it, in the various industries 

 dependent on research. The study of Natural Science offers 

 exceptional opportunity for training ourselves in these methods of 

 research, in this evolution of indejiendent thought, and I would 

 say to all— study some branch of natural science, become an 

 earnest student, make discoveries. Never mind if your 

 discoveries are old, tliej^ are discoveries, and they will help to 

 encourage you and lielji you to ap]n'eciate the discoveries of 

 others. 



And now, turning for a while to the second head — the 

 Study of Nature as a means of Culture. Speaking, as I am, to 

 many old and enthusiastic students of Nature, it should require 

 but few words of mine to carry conviction on this head. In the 

 study of Nature's methods and Nature's Avorks, Ave are Ijrought 

 face to face Avith Nature itself, and are led to admire the regularity 

 of its laAvs, the perfection of its methods, the beauty of its details. 

 The eye is trained to appreciate the various and varying shades 

 and colours presented by mountain and moorland, Avoodland and 

 stream ; the ear learns to love its sounds^ — the tAvitter of the 

 l)irds, the rustle of the Ijrook, the moan of the Avind ; the mind 

 is lifted from the sordid details of every-day life, the Avorld's 

 unkindness, the toilsome struggle ; it is soothed by the placidity 

 and beauty of Nature's jiresentation ; and the man must he mean 

 indeed Avho does not feel himself better for his intercourse Avith 

 Nature, more restful, and better fitted to take up again the 

 M-orldly struggle. The study of Nature seems also to encourage 

 and cultivate the haliit of accuracy of description and truthfulness. 

 Man does not enter into competition Avith Nature, so it is not for 

 him to boast of his skill or accomplishments. His " bag " is not 

 therefore exaggerated, nor are his specimens extolled as the finest 

 ever seen. Did you ever hear of a botanist or zoologist coming 

 back disgusted from his day's excursion because he has found but 

 fcAv specimens ? I think not. No, the influence of jNIother 

 Nature is Avholly for good, it refines, it softens, it tones doAvn 

 our asperities, it encourages and strengthens our ]iatience, and 

 altogether tends to develop that higher and better side in man. 



And as a Kecreation. Surely from Avhatever side Ave regard 

 it here, Ave cannot fail being struck Avith its efficacy. There is a 

 tendency noAv-a-days to seek for novelty and elaborateness in our 

 recreations, the older simpler forms are becoming insufficient, and 

 as this advances, and the ordinary individual iinds that he cannot 



