194 DAVENPORT ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. 



insects and shells, and by example, advice and instruction, had been 

 gradually and faithfully sowing the seeds of scientific progress, and pro- 

 moting s(;ientitic culture. Mr. Alfred Sanders had, during several years, 

 made large collections in the same lines, and had then recently retired 

 from business, and determined to devote his time largely to scientific 

 pursuits, and was much engaged in the study of systematic geology 

 especially. Mr. Barler had become an assiduous and persevering col- 

 lector and student. 



Mr. Riepe, always a naturalist in his tastes and habits, was constantly 

 finding something new and interesting, and leading the attention of his 

 pupils and friends in the direction of natural knowledge, and chiefly 

 through my acquaintance with him, and through his influence, my atten- 

 tion was turned that way more than ever before. He and I, with, some- 

 times, one or two others, and usually some of our children, spent many 

 a pleasant, and I believe profitable, day on a private pic-nic upon Credit 

 Island or over at Rock River, enjoying our dinner with fresh hot coffee, 

 made on the spot, by the side of a little fire in the woods, even on a chill 

 November day, as well as a keen appetite and absence of conventionali- 

 ties would enable us to do. These explorations always resulted in some 

 desirable additions to our cabinets, and though often pliysically fatigued 

 with our burdens, we always returned refreshed in spirit and renewed in 

 zeal. Many specimens found on those excursions are now in our Mu- 

 seum. 



Dr. Parry had long since acquired a high reputation as a thoroughly 

 scientific botanist, an untiring explorer, and reinarkably successful col- 

 lector ; and Mr. Tiffany was delving among the rocks with all the zeal 

 of a new convert. 



Such was about the condition in matters of scientific research here in 

 1865-66. None of us being very sanguine in our expectations of building 

 up a society of much strength or rapid growth, it was still thought that 

 a scientific club or small association in some form might be established, 

 w'hich would afford an opportunity for comparison of observations and 

 interchange of ideas, and by uniting our collections we might form a 

 nucleus for a museum which should ultimately become of some general 

 interest and benefit to the con^munity, by stimulating research and adding 

 something to the sum of human knowledge, and possibly, in time, an in- 

 stitution which should be creditable to our city. 



The untimely death of Mr. Sanders, and the loss of his talent, expe- 

 rience and influence before any definite action had been taken, was a 

 serious drawback and discouragement, and doubtless somewhat delayed 

 action in the matter, and Dr. Parry's absence most of the time was a 

 further difficulty. But we realized that the formation of mere private 

 collections was of comparatively trifling importance, having very little 

 influence upon the community, and if pursued with no higher object, 

 rather encouraging, perhaps, a spirit of selfishness or exclusiveness, 

 each being led to work more for his own than for the general good. Per- 

 sonal proprietorship is rather antagonistic to a liberal public spirit and 

 true interest in the increase and diffusion of knowledge. 



