94 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 
The social features of the congress were most noteworthy. The President of 
the Republic, besides giving the usual official reception, entertained the foreign 
delegates at dinner, invitations being extended to a limited number each day 
during the congress. Receptions were given under government auspices at the 
principal social clubs. The American minister, the French, Brazilian, and 
Argentine ministers, and numerous prominent citizens entertained the delegates. 
Members of the American and other delegations were guests at a number of 
charming haciendas in the vicinity of Santiago; and the American delegation 
entertained at dinner members of the organization committee, chairmen of 
various national delegations, and others. Visits were made to institutions of 
learning, museums, art galleries, hospitals, and manufacturing establishments, 
and no effort was spared by the officials of the congress to make the visit of 
the foreign delegates enjoyable and profitable. The writer wishes to express 
his personal appreciation of these courtesies and attentions, and to say that he 
approached South America somewhat oppressed by the thought that he should 
find himself a stranger in a strange land, but that, on the contrary, there was 
not a day of the two months spent in the Latin-American countries on which 
he was not made to feel entirely at home and among appreciative and generous 
friends. 
The universal feeling at the close of the congress was that the meeting had 
fully justified the plans of its projectors; and the story is not entirely told 
when it is stated that the elaborate programme, covering nearly every branch 
of science, was successfully carried out. The more thoughtful find in this and 
in kindred assemblages much that is of significance for the future of the 
American republics. This congress was a decided step in the direction of bring- 
ing about a better understanding among the nations represented. It was a step 
toward a fuller appreciation of the common interests of each and every Ameri- 
ean nation. It was an appreciable forward step in the development of the 
means and methods of promoting the common interests of the continent. It 
was a step toward making the experience and the accumulated wisdom of each 
people represented the experience and wisdom of all. In the section of peda- 
gogy the best that has been developed in the theory and practice of teaching 
was made the common property of all the American republics. In the section 
of sanitary and medical science the latest achievements of each nation in the 
battle with disease were made familiar to every participant. In the section of 
agriculture and zootechnics steps were taken in the direction of properly utiliz- 
ing and conserving the resources of the continent in these important realms. In 
the section of engineering the best methods of overcoming the various physical 
obstacles to progress and of winning the riches of the earth were explained for 
the benefit of all America. In the section of government and law the principles 
of statecraft and the administration of justice were discussed for the benefit of 
every American government. In the section of the fiscal sciences practical 
methods of conducting the monetary affairs of the nations were presented and 
which our privileged position in the world’s affairs has placed upon us. I can 
imagine no greater distinction for the next congress than the possibility of 
marking a further step in the development of this spirit of service and of con- 
tinental solidarity. 
And, now, in closing, let me again extend the thanks of the delegation of the 
United States of America to you, the members of the organizing committee, for 
your broad grasp of the purposes of the congress and the skill with which these 
purposes have been made real and effective; to you, our colleagues, for your 
cordial reception of newcomers in your midst, and finally to the Government 
and people of Chile for the warm-hearted hospitality which we have enjoyed. 
