CONCLUSION. 145 



joining- their influence to our Association, and receiving 

 in return the benefits coming- from united endeavor and 

 from enthusiastic devotion to a common cause. 



Embracing- all the chapters, and making- room also 

 for individuals when chapters cannot well be formed, 

 is our Agassiz Association. And the influence and pros- 

 perity of each chapter and assembly can be increased 

 and perpetuated by spreading everywhere we go a knowl- 

 edge of our local work not only, and of our local organi- 

 zation, but also, and even with more emphasis, a knowl- 

 edge of our entire Association, with its broader member- 

 ship and its farther-reaching aims. 



Our Association is not by any means great or power- 

 ful. Yet, on the other hand, while we have no excuse for 

 vanity, neither need we feel vexation of spirit. Our pur- 

 poses are good, our methods right. 



Scientific men of highest repute, men like Ramsey 

 of England, and men like Agassiz, Hyatt, Winchell, 

 Kemsen, Gould, Gilman, and Scudder of America, have 

 extended to us the hand of recognition. 



The press has almost always been indulgent; and. 

 although we have often exposed ourselves to fair at- 

 tacks of satire, our real desire to do honest work has 

 turned the most caustic pen to kindness. 



In speaking of our helpers, I should be unjust if I 

 failed to mention with renewed gratitude and honor the 

 large number of scientists who have voluntarily devoted 

 their valuable time to the cheerful and patient assist- 

 ance of our needs. More than fifty gentlemen represent- 

 ing all departments of science hold themselves always 

 ready to answer the questions that puzzle us. Thanks 

 to their benevolence, the boy who lives in the remotest 

 and smallest village can send his bit of stone or his curi- 

 ous beetle to one of these men, and learn its name and 



no 



