214 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



the hard hand of toil is accompanied with the thoughtful brow of the 

 student. The masters of the future in science, as in politics, will come 

 from the ranks of industry, and therefore it is a wise provision which 

 affords to this class such excellent opportunities for improvement. 



The fact must not be overlooked that institutions like this Academy 

 take high rank in the scheme of public education. In them the student 

 is brought face to face with Nature — the great storehouse of all knowl- 

 edge. Here are learned lessons of close observation and careful re- 

 search, and out of the habits of mind thus formed have come the great 

 discoveries and inventions which distinguish our modern civilization. 

 It seems almost impossible to exaggerate the beneficent influences 

 which result from the study of science. Instead of passing the best 

 years of life mastering the "dead languages," which, when acquired, can 

 be of little practical value, those engaged in scientific research learn 

 the great truths of creation, and master the utilities of life. The dis- 

 coveries of steam and electricity, for example, and the inventions by 

 which these mighty elements have been subjected to human use, are 

 among the direct results of the studies encouraged by such institutions, 

 and it is these things which make up the superiority of modern over 

 ancient civilization. 



It is undoubtedly true that the ranks of our members engaged in 

 original research have been somewhat thinned by death and removal, 

 and this fact has been the occasion of some solicitude concerning the 

 future of our Academy. We, however, need entertain no fear, for the 

 workers are near at hand. There has recently been noticed among 

 the youth of the land a great scientific uprising, which is destined to 

 rank as one of the epochs of history. In 1880 an Agassiz Association 

 was formed through the instrumentality of Harlan H. Ballard, of Lenox, 

 Mass., having for its object the study of natural history among young 

 persons. There are now over nine hundred separate chapters in this 

 and other countries, with over 10,000 members. The institution has 

 an excellent organization. Each chapter must have not less than four 

 members, and may elect its own officers, adopt its own rules and pursue 

 whatever course of study is deemed desirable. The first great conven- 

 tion of the Agassiz Association was held at Philadelphia, in 1884, and it 

 is in contemplation to hold the next national gathering in Davenport 

 during the coming summer. There are two Davenport chapters of 

 this association, one containing thirty-two members, consisting mainly 

 of high school scholars, and the other about forty members, derived 

 from the grammar schools. Both chapters hold weekly meetings in 

 the Academy building. We thus have our scientific successors close 

 at hand, and therefore need have no fear but that our work will be 

 taken up and carried onward to a still more splendid success. 



It should be noted in this review that during the past year we have 

 been favored with visits from Dr. Willes De Hass, of Washington, D. C, 

 and Rev. J. P. MacLean, of Hamilton, Ohio. Both these distinguished 

 arch;eologists, while in Davenport, delivered lectures gratuitously, for 

 the benefit of the Academy. Dr. De Hass, it will be remembered, was 

 the gentleman who took the famous Grave Creek tablet to Washington, 



