SYNOPSIS OF PROCEEDINGS. 215 



and placed before the world the facts of its discovery, and Rev. Mr. 

 MacLean, in his "Mound Builders," has, perhaps, advanced the strong- 

 est arguments yet presented tending to establish the authenticity of 

 that interesting relic. There are thus no more competent archaeologists 

 in the country, and both these gentlemen, after a careful examination 

 of our Elephant- Pipes, and inquiry into the history of their discovery, 

 expressed entire confidence in their authenticity. 



During the past year we have been called to mourn the loss of Mr. 

 Richard Smetham, one of our life members. While this kindly and 

 genial gentleman did not personally engage in scientific research, he 

 had an intelligent appreciation of its value, was a frequent visitor to 

 our rooms, and took a lively interest in the welfare of the Academy. 

 A gentleman of delicate sensibilities, generous culture, and fine abilities, 

 his loss leaves a vacancy in the ranks of our life members not easily 

 filled. Our associate, Dr. C. C. Parry, has already made the death of 

 Mr. Smetham the subject of a most appropriate obituary notice, which 

 appears in our published proceedings. 



liefore closing this review, it is fitting we should recall the fact that 

 it is a principal object of an association like our own to advance the 

 frontiers of human knowledge, and it will be well, therefore, for us to 

 pause, take a backward glance over our career, and ascertain what 

 contributions we have made to the great storehouse of facts. Man is 

 placed here on earth surrounded by mystery, and it is only here and 

 there some adventurous explorer penetrates this vast unknown, and 

 brings to light some new fact of creation. Thus, the duration of man's 

 existence on earth has long been the subject of extensive research 

 and profound speculation. In the special field of archaeology this 

 Academy has accomplished important results. Our pottery, our cloth- 

 covered copper axes, our inscribed tablets, our elephant pipes, are 

 absolutely unique, and unequaled in any other collection in the world. 

 They carry back the age of man into the far distant past, when the 

 gigantic mammoth frequented our prairies, while yet the glaciers were 

 at work preparing a home for civilization. And when the history of 

 these wonderful relics shall be written, it will not fail to record the 

 adventurous voyages of the "Old Man in the Skiff," Capt. Wilfred P. 

 Hall, which have enriched our museum with all this rare old pottery; 

 it will take note, too, of the disinterested and indefatigable labors of 

 Rev. J. Gass, in his ceaseless delving in mound and earthwork until he 

 brought forth, and freely placed in the museum of the Academy, relics 

 from the far past so rare they open a new page in human history; nor 

 will the historian fail to take count of the intelligent observation, the 

 exact knowledge, and the tireless labors of our Curator, Prof. W. H. 

 Pratt, in bringing order and symmetry out of all this mass of material, 

 and thus making possible its scientific study. So, too, in another line 

 of research, our associate, Prof. W. H. Barris, has penetrated into the 

 bowels of the earth, and read so truthfully the story of the rocks that 

 they must bear his name to distant generations. And who does not 

 know that the name of Dr. C. C. Parry has been stamped upon the 

 mountain peak, and traced in lines of beauty on many a mountain 



