COMMEMORATION ADDRESS 83 
educational force, and the scope they afford the higher faculties of man 
to apprehend the wonderful phenomena of nature, and to master and utilize 
her great forces.” ‘The highest results of character and life offer some- 
thing which cannot be weighed in the balances of the merchant, be he ever 
so wise in his generation.’ In this view he directed with exhaustless energy 
and rare intelligence the resources and progress of the Museum. 
The establishment of the Department of Woods and Forestry, and_ his 
wonderful collection of the woods of America under the direction of Pro- 
fessor Sargent;— the creation of a great Library of Natural History ;— 
alliances with Columbia University and the Board of Education ;—the scien- 
tific arrangement of the collections in proper departments with a skilled 
scientific curator at the head of each;— the publications of the Museum, 
growing more and more valuable to science as the years progress;— the 
sending out of exploring expeditions to all parts of the world in quest of 
scientific knowledge and specimens, some of the most prominent of which 

were at his own expense;— the interchange of specimens and the establish- 
ment of mutual and cordial relations with other scientific societies, all testify 
to this lofty ambition of his to promote here the highest possible objects which 
he happily lived to see realized. T must not omit his generous and unfailing 
support of Peary in his repeated and undaunted efforts to reach the North 
Pole. We had hoped to have that famous discoverer here to-day, but I 
have the great privilege to read this letter from him, just received. 
New York, February 9, 1910. 
Dear Sir: 
It is with the deepest regret that I am obliged to say that an engagement in an- 
other city, which cannot be postponed, will make it impossible for me to be present this 
afternoon on the occasion of the unveiling of the statue of my friend, Morris K. Jesup. 
His breadth of mind and character is perhaps in no way indicated more clearly 
than by the wide range of his interests, as shown by the two projects in which his 
heart was most deeply centered — the future of the American Museum of Natural 
History and the discovery of the North Pole. 
The fact that such a big, broad, practical mind as his should take up with such 
deep and steadfast interest the question of North Pole efforts, proved to me con- 
clusively that my own conviction of the value of those efforts was correct. 
To Morris K. Jesup more than to any other one man is due the fact that the 
North Pole is to-day a trophy of this country. 
His faith and support carried me past many a dead center of discouragement 
amounting almost to despair. 
Friend of unswerving faith, advisor of keen, long-headed ‘ability, backer of 
princely generosity, he was first in my thoughts when I reached that goal of the cen- 
turies, first in my thoughts on my return, and my ever present regret is and has been 
that he could not have stayed with us a little longer to see the realization of his faith. 
Faithfully, 
(Signed) R. E. Peary, U.S. N. 
-resident HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN. 
