II 



SO much preliminary to the business be- 

 fore us, to meet changed conditions as 

 practical men, with the reinforcement born 

 of hope or with the strong resolution of de- 

 spair. 



For what does this Association stand ? 

 What are these classical interests that you 

 represent? Take a familiar simile. By a 

 very simple trick, you remember, did Em- 

 pedocles give Menippus in the moon-halt 

 the first stage of his memorable trip 

 such long and clear vision that he saw the 

 tribes of men like a nest of ants, a seething 

 mass going to and fro at their different 

 tasks. Of the function of the classical mem- 

 bers in this myrmecic community there can 

 be no question . Neither warriors , nor slaves , 

 nor neuters, you live in a well-protected 

 social environment, heretofore free from ene- 



