2l8 DyWKNI'OR'l' ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIKNCKS. 



PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL ADDRESS. 

 Bv C. H. Pkeston. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: 



It is made the duty of your presiding officer to present, on retiring 

 from the chair, a report of the j^rogress of the Academy during his 

 official term, aLd of the condition of its various departments as they 

 pass to the care of his successor. 



It would afford me much pleasure if I could point to the Academy 

 year just ended as one of active work and extensive acquisition. We 

 have not, indeed, been idle, but our available energy has been mostly 

 spent in holding the prow of our craft up stream. In view, however, 

 of the recent sad narrowing of our small force of workers, both by 

 death and by removal to other fields, and of the almost disheartening, 

 financial outlook when the year began, we have, I think, cause for 

 congratulation that this dark period in our history has been thus far 

 safely ]mssed. Owing to a combination of circumstances, we have 

 been occupying an anomalous position. Brought, as it were, to the 

 very top-wave of success, a dead calm has suddenly fallen, and we 

 have found ourselves lacking both wind and steam — deprived of all 

 means of progression. I trust we shall not, in the future, be left Hable 

 to a similar chance. 



But if seemingly at a stand, we have made no inconsiderable pro- 

 gress. The appreciative notice of a recent distinguished visitor. Dr. 

 Phene, and the enthusiastically commendatory report of the commit- 

 tee sent from the St. Louis Historical Association to inspect our arch- 

 aeological collection, should incite both the Academy and the com- 

 munity to which it belongs to maintain and advance its good repute. 



During the past year 



THE MUSEUM, 



as shown by the Curator's report, has been steadily though slowly grow- 

 ing through additions from various sources. It has been little in- 

 debted, however, to any aid from the treasury, but chiefly — save scat- 

 tering contributions — to the continued, invaluable, gratuitous labors of 

 Capt. W. P. Hall and the Rev. J. (iass, and to the generous bequest 

 of Mrs. True-Miner, completing the "True" mineralogical collection. 

 More valuable than all material acquisitions, however, have been the 

 ([uiet labors of the Curator in restoring, classifying, arranging, and re- 

 cording the thousands of specimens, old and new; for it is only by 

 constant and laborious care that the museum can be made at once at- 

 tractive and available for study. 



The importance of retaining in his place one under whose hands our 

 collections, as they stand, have almost wholly taken shai)e, cannot be 

 over-estimated. To do so has cost us, owing to altered circumstances, 

 an extra effort during the past year, and yet the services rendered have 

 been in very small part repaid. I trust it may be possible soon to 

 make some ])ermanent and ade(iuate provision for the Curator's work. 



