SCIENCE AND CULTURE. n 



giving proof of his comprehension of the practical prob- 

 lems 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 mak- 

 ing a like start in life, and how he could stretch out a 

 helping hand to them. 



After long and anxious reflection this successful prac- 

 tical man of business could devise nothing better than 

 to provide them with the means of obtaining "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 as- 

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

 say intensify the force of this practical answer to prac- 

 tical objections. 



We jnay take it for granted then, that, in the opin- 

 ion 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 inestima- 

 ble boon upon those whose livelihood is to be gained 

 by the practice of the arts and manufactures of the 

 district. 



The only question worth discussion is, whether the 



