io6 First Conference 



now the harvest is plenteous, and the labourers are 

 few, but yet they are more than they were. Thirdly, 

 as the circle of human knowledge widens, the oppor- 

 tunities for research become greater and greater! 

 Every discovery opens the way to others — suggests 

 new ideas, and fresh researches. We seem, indeed, to 

 be on the threshold of great discoveries. 



There is no single substance in Nature the pro- 

 perties of which are fully known to us. There is no 

 animal or plant which would not well repay, I do not 

 say merely the attention of an hour, but even the 

 devotion of a lifetime. I often grieve to think how 

 much happiness our fellow-countrymen lose from 

 their ignorance of science. Man, we know, is born 

 to sorrow and suffering, but he is not born to be dull, 

 and no one with any love of science ever could be. 

 If anyone is ever dull, it is not only his misfortune, 

 but his own fault. Every wood, every field, every 

 garden, every stream, every pond is full of interest for 

 those who have eyes to see. No one would sit and 

 drink in a public-house, if he knew how delightful it 

 was to sit and think in a field; no one would seek 

 excitement in gambling and betting, if he knew how 

 much more interesting science is; science never ruined 

 anyone, but is a sort of fairy godmother ready to 

 shower on us all manner of good gifts, if we will only 

 let her. In mediaeval fairy tales the nature spirits 

 occasionally fell in love with some peculiarly attrac- 

 tive mortals, and endowed their favourites with splen- 

 did presents. But Nature will do all this, and more, 

 for anyone who loves her. 



Lastly, in the troubles and sorrows of life science 

 will do much to soothe, comfort, and console. If we 



