THE HISTORY OF THE CONGRESS 25 



officers of Washington University, the annual banquet provided for 

 men of science, letters, and affairs, by the will of Henry B. Shaw, 

 founder of the Missouri Botanical Gardens, was given during this 

 week as a compliment to the noted foreign scientists who were the 

 guests of the city of St. Louis. 



Friday evening, September 23, official banquet given by the 

 Exposition to the speakers and officials of the Congress and the 

 officials of the Exposition, in the banquet hall of the Tyrolean Alps. 



Saturday evening, September 24, banquet at the St. Louis Club 

 given by the Round Table of St. Louis, to the foreign members of the 

 Congress. The Round Table is a literary club which meets at banquet 

 six times annually for discussion of topics of interest to the literary 

 and scientific world. 



Banquet given by the Imperial Commissioner-General from Japan 

 to the Japanese delegation to the Congress and to the Exposition 

 officials and Chiefs of Departments. 



Dinner given by Commissioner-General from Great Britain to the 

 English members of the Congress. 



OPENING OF THE CONGRESS 



The assembling of the Congress on the afternoon of September 19, 

 in the magnificent auditorium of Festival Hall which crowned Cascade 

 Hill and the Terrace of States, was marked with simple ceremonies 

 and impressive dignity. The great organ pealed the national hymns 

 of the countries participating and closed with the national anthem 

 of the United States. In the audience were the members of the Con- 

 gress representing the selected talent of the world in their field of 

 scientific endeavor, and about them were grouped an audience drawn 

 from every part of the United States to promote by their presence the 

 success of the Congress and to do honor to the noted personages who 

 were the guests of the Exposition and of the Nation. On the stage 

 were seated the officials of the Congress, the honorary vice-presidents 

 from foreign nations, and the officials of the Exposition. 



At the appointed hour the Director of Congresses, Dr. Howard J. 

 Rogers, called the meeting to order, and outlined in a few words the 

 object of the Congress, welcomed the foreign delegates, and presented 

 the members, both foreign and American, to the President of the 

 Exposition, Hon. David R. Francis. 



The President spoke as follows : 



What an ambitious undertaking is a universal exposition! But how worthy 

 it is of the highest effort! And, if successful, how far-reaching are its results, 

 how lasting its benefits! Who shall pass judgment on that success? On what 

 evidence, by what standards shall their verdicts be formed? The development 

 of society, the advancement of civilization, involve many problems, encounter 

 many and serious difficulties, and have met with deplorable reactions which 

 decades and centuries were required to repair. The proper study of mankind is 



