95 

 DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESS. 



(An Inaugural Address delivered by Mr, H. B. Small, President 

 OF THE Ottawa Scientific and Literary Society, 14th Novem- 

 ber, 1889.) 



The above was the subject of a comprehensive paper showing the 

 rapid strides development and progress have made in science and litera- 

 ture during the latter part of the nineteenth centmy. 



After reviewing various matters in connection therewith, the lec- 

 tui'er based the existence of everything that caused development on the 

 use of the solar power either directly or indirectly, and the existence of 

 this he traced through the various channels conveying it. 



The following extracts afford to our readers the main portions of 

 the lecture : 



Applied science is built upon the long and unrequited labor of 

 students. The steamship, the railway, the telegraph, the telephone 

 and nearly every invention of the age, ai-e due to the patient observation 

 and collection of facts which at one time appeared to have no practical 

 bearing. It is perhaps difficult to get even a misty glimpse of the prac- 

 tical utility of some investigations, svich as those in archoeology and 

 philology, but the fascinating interest of some of the conclusions arrived 

 at, or to be reached, have at least a value in developing the human 

 mind which money cannot measure. We are apparently on the eve of 

 startling discoveries in astronomy which it is easily conceivable may 

 have a bearing on material affairs, This is true in a far greater measure 

 of meteorology, geology and chemistry, in all of which the data accu- 

 mulated are great, and the problems awaiting solution are of an intensely 

 practical nature. Physiology and its kindred sciences have not only in 

 recent years added to the fairy tales of science, but have opened new 

 fields of great promise and consequence. Intensely interesting, and 

 suggestive of great results to the human race, ai-e the recent discoveries 

 in regard to cell-life. The anatomy and physiology of these cells, spoies 

 and bacilli have already received sufficient attention to warrant the hope 

 that improved methods of prolonging life and warding off disease may 

 yet be discovered. Great as have been the advances of late years, we 

 are ajiparently waiting for discoveries and inventions quite as great, 



