L] SCIENCE AND CULTURE. 5 



problems he had been roughly called upon to solve, 

 by a career of remarkable prosperity. 



Finally, having reached old age with its well- 

 earned surroundings of " honour, troops of friends," 

 the hero of my story bethought himself of those who 

 were making a like start in life, and how he could 

 stretch out a helping hand to them. 



After long and anxious reflection this successful 

 practical man of business could devise nothing better 

 than to provide them with the means of obtaining 

 (t sound, extensive, and practical scientific knowledge." 

 And he devoted a large part of his wealth and five 

 years of incessant work to this end. 



I need not point the moral of a tale which, as the 

 solid and spacious fabric of the Scientific College 

 assures us, is no fable, nor can anything which I could 

 say intensify the force of this practical answer to 

 practical objections. 



We may take it for granted then, that, in the 

 opinion of those best qualified to judge, the diffusion 

 of thorough scientific education is an absolutely 

 essential condition of industrial progress ; and that 

 the College which has been opened to-day will confer 

 an inestimable boon upon those whose livelihood is to 

 be gained by the practice of the arts and manufac- 

 tures of the district. 



The only question worth discussion is, whether 

 the conditions, under which the work of the College 

 is to be carried out, are such as to give it the best 

 possible chance of achieving permanent success. 



