5 



t»ne -mcTiiljeT, must he put among the many funny things 

 of our Institute C!ille(] uiiclassilied. — My own numerous 

 ■addresses might properlv he consigned to the same list of 

 things protniscuons. There, too, the wit and the humoi* 

 •of our gatherings belong. 



But when we come to classified knowledge, then we 

 reach the field occupied by the Institute. Would that 

 this field of science universal might be not only occupied, 

 l)ut thoroughly possessed. 



And yet how many things have been well unfolded in 

 prepared lectures within these walls. You have here 

 *heard mathematical demonstrations by no means easy, and 

 Slave seen Ihem explained on the black-board. You have 

 listened with clo^e attention to lectures on geographical 

 subjects, and have followed the speaker as he led yon 

 iiloiig by the help of maps and charts. You have had 

 fine astronomical lectures; and, at times, visible illustra^ 

 tions of excellent character have accompanied them. The 

 «tereopticon has beesi of service more than once. Yoa 

 have been entertained in a high degree by some lecturers 

 on physics; they taking such a subject as '^Electricity,'"' 

 and giving experiments ; or "Heat," or "Sound," and giv- 

 ing discussions. Even astrology was once introduced ;; 

 and a brisk talk held, years ago, on the question of 

 whether the unusual nearness of tour great planets to the 

 sun portended commotions, plagues, wars, troublesome 

 distresses or — the end of the world ! — and though many of 

 these direful things transpired, you did not become as- 

 trologers. 



^'The Metric System" appeared with its advocate and its 

 charts. Who can forget the graphic and exciting descrip- 

 tion of "Smugglmg on the Maine Border," told by one of 

 our number, a Government officer who had been detailed 

 to suppress the evil? Chemistry and geology have not 

 heen omitted as subjects to be dealt with. Botany and 



