REMINISCENCES OF THE ACADEMY BY MR. PRATT. 201? 



absolutely upon work or nothing. We realized that, and want of funds 

 was no disappointment. 



The amount of labor represented by the collections here, crude and 

 imperfect as the arrangement still is, and by the publications, so far as 

 issued, is known only to those who have done it, or who have done similar 

 work elsewhere. I could readily give several examples of scientific 

 societies which commenced by raising a fund to provide cases, etc., aud^ 

 furnish rooms in good style, and after expending that the excitement 

 subsided, they did nothing more, or dragged along with a constantly de- 

 creasing interest until it reached the vanishing point, and the project has 

 been virtually abandoned. The money ought not to be had until the solid 

 work brings it. 



There is still plenty of work to be done both for and by the Academy. 

 In many directions we have scarcely made a beginning. We must labor 

 to round it into full and symmetrical proportions. I need not now partic- 

 ularize the points requiring especial attention and effort. 



Whether our Association has contributed much to it or not, it is grati- 

 fying to note that the city schools have made a great stride within the 

 last ten years in the introduction into several grades of the natural 

 sciences, physics, botany, zoology and physiology. That much remains 

 to be desired and hoped for in the same direction, is indicated by the 

 record of the last School Board meeting, that '-the motion to introduce 

 geology into the High School was lost." This is not very discouraging, 

 however, as it was only postponed for a time, and will probably be done 

 ere long. We may also note the marked absence of natural science in 

 the Normal Institutes, and the lukewarmness of teachers generally. 



If the few who began the work shall be able, as they drop off, to leave 

 our institution in abler hands, with sufficient vitality to ensure its per- 

 manency, continued growtli and increasing usefulness, it will be the 

 height of our ambition, and even more than we dared expect or scarcely 

 to hope for at the beginning. I, for one, do now confidently expect this, 

 so much interest is already manifested, and so good a foundation laid, 

 thanks to those who have so earnestly taken up and so nobly borne the 

 burdens of these latter days. It is assured by the increased and increas- 

 ing sympathy and appreciation on the part of the community. Indeed, 

 I am happy to say that for my own part, I never for an hour lost my 

 confidence in the Academy and its future prosperity and usefulness. 



Let us hope that the close of another decade, during which time some 

 more heads will be laid low, and some more names will disappear 

 from the original roll of members, or be marked with the *, may 

 find the Academy situated in its own completed building, with a good 

 lecture room and valuable museum, an institution whose regular meet- 

 ings, lectures and publications, whose labors in the cause of human 

 progress, whose connection with the public educational system, and in- 

 fluence upon the community, may command respect at home and abroad, 

 may be a source of pride and of real benefit to every citizen. 



After the reading of the above paper further remarks were 



