10 INTRODUCTION. 



natural history. He possessed faculties of rare power 

 in all three directions, and, therefore, succeeded in mak- 

 ing a deep and lasting- impression upon the history of 

 science, as well as upon the minds of the people. Before 

 his day scientific men were looked upon as busy triflers; 

 after that time they had gained a certain standing- in the 

 eyes of the public, and in the permanent respect of the 

 better educated classes. I have often heard him say that 

 science in America could not prosper without the good- 

 will and respect of the people. 



Darwin's service to science would have been much 

 slighter in its immediate effect had it not been lor the 

 multitude of teachers who echoed his voice in every 

 institution of learning, and the lecturers who repeated 

 his theme with infinite variations from every rostrum 

 and newspaper throughout the civilized world. 



Fortunately for the future of science in this country 

 there is now a daily increasing popular constituency. 

 This has been largely gained by the unselfish and unre- 

 warded efforts of investigators, and also by a growing 

 disposition on their part to help forward all organiza- 

 tions, having the education of the public in view. Though 

 needing as much as other men the comforts of life, and 

 having as great desire for the enjoyment of its luxuries, 

 and feeling quite as keenly the need of making every 

 effort remunerative, they have nevertheless not hesitated 

 to sacrifice their valuable time that others might be 

 better educated and the cause of scientific culture ad- 

 vanced. 



Sooner or later in the history of institutions there 

 comes a period of ripe development and increasing use- 

 fulness, which must be supported not only by those bene- 

 fited the members and patrons but by larger income 

 derived from invested funds or from the government. 



