1904.1 ADDRESS. 77 



tlu' passing beauty and hlcssinf;- of (he world was delusive, 

 or actually ensnarino-, ihin<>;s to he shunned, and the more 

 dangerous because seemingly innocent and delightful. There 

 was no room for the appreciation of the natural blessings of 

 life, or real esteem of natural virtues, nor anywhere was the 

 real life, or tli(> ivi\\ world-building, of this present time. 



From much of this, and by anticipation from all of it, we 

 are being led hapi)ily by the way of the trail of the naturalist, 

 the world-lover and student, the poet of the fields, t\\v marsh, 

 the woods, the solitary way; the scientist, making new theory 

 and principles of life as he advances, and giving to all living 

 a more natural and satisfying character. He has taught us 

 not to judge the world until we have studied it, or to draw^ 

 conclusions against it until we have gone at least as far as 

 those who have penetrated farthest. 



He has taught us to approach the study with expectation 

 and in the appreciative spirit, and not with prejudices drawn 

 from the mood of the past. As a guide he has been an optimistic 

 friend, seeing deeper because he sharpened his sight with 

 enthusiasm in his inquiry and love for his work. 



Assuming to be the more intelligent brother of a universal 

 world-family, he has been admitted to world secrets denied 

 to those who have shut out this discovery by the very assump- 

 tion with which it was undertaken. He has opened up a new 

 world in part, and given fair tokens of being on the track which 

 will lead at last to such a world as has never yet been dreamed. 



The best books of the world today are nature books, the 

 most simple and yet the most profound. The most hopeful 

 and compelling teachers are those who keep close to the nature 

 of things about us, and advance only so far as the immediate 

 facts discoverable warrant. 



Leaping to conclusions, as a method of progress, has given 

 way to the painstaking task. 



The mood of hostility has been succeeded by the appreciative 

 temper. 



Love is needed to be the key that opens not only the heart 

 and heaven, but also the secrets of life on every hand. 



