750 Transactions of the American Institute. 



knows, stands on a lii^lier plane than a man who does not know. 

 Hence, the position of the scientist is impregnable; he has riches and 

 power, of which he cannot be robbed ; shonld he find his chief enjoy- 

 ment, however, in the reputation he has acquired, he may well fear 

 rivalry. On the other hand, if he pursues truth for the love of it, 

 he will welcome all who labor in the same spirit, and extend to those 

 below him a helping hand. 



The study of natural laws in the abstract, undoubtedly affords 

 pure enjoyment ; yet this feeling is vastly intensified by witnessing 

 their successful application for the accomplishment of new and 

 important results in the useful arts. Such results are often brought 

 about by the artisan, who, although he may know but few of these 

 laws, understands niost thoroughly all the conditions, peculiar to his 

 art, under which they can be effectually applied. Our great inventors 

 have not, generally, had the advantage of a liberal education. By 

 ingenuity alone they take the lead, and of course counteract, to a 

 certain extent, the haughtiness sometimes engendered by learning. 



Scientific associations will be entirely successful when, they fully 

 recognize the fact that science, in these modern times, has a double 

 mission. From serene heights she beckons on the student who longs 

 for clearer views of the divine plan of the universe; yet often she 

 descends to the humblest abodes of man. and watches while invention 

 weaves some new device. Thus, we find her potent influence in those 

 improvements which lessen manual labor, supply corporal wants, and 

 add to the material resources of our race. We, of the Polytechnic, 

 welcome her in both ofiices, as revealer of long hidden links in the 

 endless chain of sequences, and as prompter to new combinations of 

 some of these links, by which the surplus powers of nature are suc- 

 cessfully applied to ingenious mechanism, and by which even new 

 forces are generated, and made obedient to the will of man. 



Minerals from Colorado. 



Dr. L. Feuchtwanger exhibited some minerals from Colorado, con- 

 taining 603 ounces of silver, and 230 pounds of lead to the ton. The 

 cost of transporting a ton from Colorado to this city is $150. 



New Directory and Letter Box. 



Mr. Coffee showed a directory and letter box for large buildings, 

 the object of which is to facilitate the delivery of letters to the occu- 

 pants, and also serve as a directory. The apparatus consists of a num- 



