74 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



THIRD DAY 



Ball Room of the New Willard Hotel, Washington, D. C. 



Thursday Evening, April 24, 1913. 



At the conclusion of dinner, the assembled company was 

 called to order by President Remsen. 



President Remsen: Gentlemen, I have received informa- 

 tion to the effect that the members of the Academy and guests 

 are tired of my voice (cries of " No, No "), having listened to it 

 for three days, and under these circumstances I am going to 

 ask my friend and colleague, Dr. Woodward, to act as toast- 

 master on this occasion. (Applause.) 



DR. WOODWARD: Mr. President, Mr. Vice-President of the 

 United States, Mr. Ambassador, Honored Guests, Members of 

 the Academy: It has been well said that wheresoever and when- 

 ever three or more Americans are gathered together, there and 

 then you will find also a president, a secretary and a treasurer 

 (laughter), and soon after that, talking begins. 



It is a singular fact, however, that the National Academy of 

 Sciences, on such occasions as this, has distinguished itself by a 

 minimum of talk. 



Our President, and the members of the Academy who are old 

 enough, will remember that it has been our uniform custom to 

 have but a single toast, and that drunk to the Academy. On this 

 occasion, however, which happens only once in fifty years, I 

 think we may depart from our usual custom, and I am going to 

 ask you to rise and drink, with me, to the health of the President 

 of the United States. (Applause.) 



(The assembled company stood and drank the toast proposed.) 



Dr. Woodward: It is the function of a toastmaster to be at 

 once as polite as diplomatic usages will permit, and to be a 

 dictator. 



