70 



Her magic screens with weird enchantments glow, 



And things of beauty from above, below, 



Snatched from the garden, gathered from the lea, 



Brought from the hill-side, borrowed from the sea, 



Lifted from nothingness to ample size, 



Pass in review before our wondering eyes. 



All lands come trooping with their tribute meet 



To lay in offering at their Mistress' feet; 



From the far realms where endless winter reigns, 



From tropic forests and from summer plains, 



There comes some gift of leaf, or life, or flower, 



To swell the wonders of th' enchanted hour; 



Each form of marvel on this teeming earth, 



The shaping crystal and the insect's birth, 



The golden argosies that sail the air 



And freights of life to waiting blossoms bear; 



Each comes, obedient to the Mistress' call, 



And paints itself upon the canvas wall; 



And over all, the magic work to crown, 



The nimble ether of the skies comes down, 



And subtile light waves, tortured for their name, 



Write out their autographs in rainbow flame. 



These are our claims, good friends, to love and praise, 



For this to-night, each heart its homage pays, 



For this the tables groan, and flowers' perfume 



Beats out in waves of fragrance through the room. 



Your presence cheers us; may its kindly power 



Be felt for good in many a coming hour! 



You've proved our feasts, now give our fasts a try, 



They'll be nutritious, if a little dry, 



And the old mother, gathering to her heart 



More lusty children, take another start. 



So will the century, rounding to the sphere, 



See gain and growth with each completed year, 



And to the glorious hundredth festival, 



We bid with hearty welcome one and all. 



STEPHEN M. ALLEN of Boston being called upon re- 

 sponded as follows : 



MR. PRESIDENT : I know of no position more embar- 

 rassing to a lay member of a scientific society, who may 



