The Chicago Academy of Sciences. 35 



of its work and welfare. Its interests were always 

 foremost in his mind, and to him are due the sincerest 

 thanks of its members, both past and present. The 

 notable financial successes of the Academy throughout 

 its history were largely due to Mr. Walker's efforts. . 



But the members felt that the movement, though 

 not so intended, would result in the loss to the Acad- 

 emy of its identity, and that gradually the members 



GEORGE C. WALKER. 



who were affiliated with other institutions would with- 

 draw, while those connected with the university would 

 remain. Thus, after no very long time, it would 

 become merely a department of the university, 

 or be entirely merged therein. They also realized 

 that Chicago was surrounded with a cordon of institu- 

 tions of learning, all efficient, but different in import- 

 ant respects, and to a certain degree antagonistic; 

 and that these institutions were drawing about Chicago 

 a great number of scholars, distinguished in their 



