16 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 



THE ACADEMY AND THE PEOPLE. 

 BY PROF. T. H. MACBRIDE OF THE STATE UNIVERSITY. 



Gentlemen of the Academy: 



Again, by the decrees of fortune, I appear before you as 

 your presiding officer to extend to you the felicitations of the 

 season and to congratulate you on this, our annual reunion. 

 It is a fortunate thing that so many men can thus come up 

 each from his own field, here to meet in friendly converse with 

 his friend of like pursuit, of like employment, each to derive 

 encouragement and stimulus for further and happier endeavor. 

 This evening there are many reasons for special congratula- 

 tion. Our roll of fellows and members is longer than ever 

 before; our program shows a more general and widespread 

 interest; every department of scientific work in the state would 

 seem to be more assiduously cultivated than has hitherto been 

 the case. 



Let us hope that the enthusiasm which has thus far marked 

 the progress of the Academy, and especially distinguishes the 

 present session, may continue until every man of science in the 

 state shall appreciate and feel its uplifting power. We ought 

 to fill the largest hall in this city, and the time approaches 

 when we shall. 



It seems less necessary to enumerate here a list of the 

 papers and publications of our membership during the year 

 that is gone. Many of the more important are before you in 

 the latest volume of our printed proceedings. Suffice it to say 

 our members and fellows have not been idle. Some have been 

 honored, and in their honors we rejoice to share, by transfer 

 to wider fields and opportunities new, in other and distant 

 states. 



Our worthy secretary. Professor Osborn, to whose enthus- 

 iastic effort, more than to any other one thing the success of 

 the Academy during these recent years is due, has already for 



