240 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



meriting upon its publications Mr. Huxley expressed the opinion that 

 "if all the books in the world except the Philosophical Transactions 

 were destroyed, it is safe to say that the foundation of physical science 

 would remain unshaken, and that the vast intellectual progress of the 

 last two centuries would be largely, though incompletely, recorded." 

 Such experiences, and such triumphs, even at so great a distance, 

 should allay all our discouragement, and inspire us with zeal and pur- 

 pose to build up here in the far-away valley of the Mississippi, an insti- 

 tution which may become a beacon light throughout the scientific world. 



The impression is extensively entertained that only those whose sit- 

 uation in life gives them abundant leisure can engage in scientific 

 pursuits, and hence that a scientific man cannot at the same time be a 

 practical business man. Without doubt these erroneous impressions 

 have deterred many of those engaged in some of the industrial callings 

 from taking an active part in scientific research. A review of the lives 

 of some of the most noted scientific investigators will, however, reveal 

 the fact that, like Hugh Miller, they have steadily pursued some one of 

 the industrial callings, and have only given their leisure hours to scien- 

 tific pursuits. Upon this subject the late Lord Brougham made these 

 wise observations : 



"Some of the great philosophers in all ages have been engaged in 

 the pursuits of active life, and an assiduous devotion of the bulk of our 

 time to the work which our condition requires is an important duty, 

 and indicates the possession of practical wisdom. This, however, does 

 by no means hinder us from applying the rest of our time, beside what 

 nature requires for meals and rest, to the study of science, and he who, 

 in whatever station his lot may be cast, works his day's work, and im- 

 proves his mind in the evening, as well as he who, placed above such 

 necessity, prefers the refined and elevating pleasures of knowledge 

 to the low gratification of the senses, deserves the name of a true 

 philosopher." 



These earnest words of a great thinker should encourage all the sons 

 of toil to select from among the many branches of science some one for 

 special study; giving to it their morning and their evening hours, with 

 their days of leisure, it will grow with wonderful rapidity. As they 

 pass to and fro from their homes to their places of business, new truths 

 will seem to beckon them onward, new revelations of nature will call 

 them to higher realms of thought, and as one by one they master the 

 secrets of creation they will learn the worth of being, and attain to the 

 dignity of true manhood. The knowledge thus acquired will pass into 

 their experiences like a benediction — lightening toil, assuaging trouble, 

 and elevating life with a lofty purpose. 



In this review I must not omit reference to the museum of the 

 Academy, undoubtedly the largest in the west, and containing collec- 

 tions, especially in entomology, palentology, and archaeology, which 

 are of great scientific value. The care and classification of this large 

 and increasing mass of material demands the constant attention of a 

 zealous and skillful Curator, and thus entails upon the Academy the 

 larger portion of its current expenditures. This Society has been for- 



