100 DAVEXPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIEN"CES. 



It is to-day a fact on wliich the citizens of Davenport may well con- 

 gratulate themselves; that within the last decade so much lias been 

 done to put the Academy upon a secure basis, but we all feel that the 

 gift of a lot on which we may and will erect a suitable building, is prac- 

 tically the laying of the corner stone of the Temple of Science on the 

 sunny side of the city whose citizens, we trust, will never suffer the 

 north wind of indifference to blow upon it. To-day we commend the 

 zeal which founded the Academy, and the energy which has prosecuted 

 so noble an enterprise. It is possible that there may be a martyr here 

 whose life will be a diamond set in gold. If so, let us be thankful for the 

 noble example of self-consecration. 



By aiding science, you are putting another stone into the foundation of 

 our public school system. With the products of nature and art before the 

 pupil, his mind is naturally stimulated to earnest inquiry as to the 

 nature and meaning of these things, and he is no longer contented to 

 rest in words, but seeks the knowledge of things, of realities. He be- 

 comes curious to learn what is written in the book of nature, and know 

 the right interpretation of the handwriting on the walls of creation. 

 The Academy must, in the nature of the relations between the two, be 

 the ally of our public schools. 



Nor are its benefiis confined to the youth of the city. It is emphati- 

 cally the citizens" school, the home of the mechanic, as well as the 

 museum of the leax'ned and the curious. 



'' Great field here for the imagination," said the distinguished person 

 who visited the museum yesterday. May I not suggest that each speci- 

 men on the shelves may yet be read with as much interest by the youth of 

 our city as any well worn volume in the Library ? As we are to have a 

 school of the sciences in our midst, can our wealth find a better channel 

 of usefulness than tl)e one here opened for all the generous V 



The Centennial year has been as one hundred years in one to our city. 

 When our hopes had been consumed in the fire of one night, we sat^not 

 down in the ashes, for we saw, with the expiring smoke, a form arising, 

 rhoenix-like, that was equal to the solution of every riddle which the 

 doubter could prepare. That form was the energy of woman crowned 

 with faith, which carried bravely forward the enterprise of publishing 

 the records of the Academy. Now we speak a living word to every 

 prominent scientific association, both in America and Europe ; and every 

 word we send abroad brings back a glad response, freighted with the 

 riches of other minds, and the scientific treasures of both hemispheres 

 are laid at our feet, and freely opened to every citizen. 



We gladly, then, gather here to thank you for your generosity, to cheer 

 each other in the good work, to make more sure the conditions of success,' 

 to marry intention to action, in such a way, by such measures, as will 

 secure the triumph of our noble enterprise. 



This address was briefly responded to on behalf of Mrs. Wew- 

 comb by Rev. Dr. Nott. He spol^e of the pleasure Mrs, ]^ew- 



