306 Notes and Comments. 
The last time archeology was the theme of the President’s 
address was in 1897, when Sir John Evans, the father of Sir 
Arthur, presided at the Toronto meeting. There is no doubt 
that Sir Arthur Evans’s address was quite equal to the high 
standard attained by his predecessors, but what with the 
nature of the hall (which the Mayor described as of ‘ Neolithic ’ 
architecture), and the effect caused by the half-filled seats : 
the quiet voice of the President could not be heard, and we 
doubt very much if anybody in that vast audience heard a 
tenth of the address. The present writer, who was on the 
platform quite near to the President, adopted with his neigh- 
bours, the expression of an interested listener, albeit he heard 
but little. It seems a pity that the old ‘ Red Lion Club,’ in 
connection with the British Association, has been discontinued. 
At its meetings, the members were able to practice * roaring 
like a lion,’ and whether there is anything in the roar or not, it 
is much better appreciated by an audience than is the bleating 
of a lamb, however intellectual. 
NORTHERN ANTIQUARIES. 
Sir Arthur Evans paid a tribute to the work of the local 
antiquaries in connection with the Roman remains of the north 
of England; and then summarised recent researches among 
the early European civilization, in which he has himself played 
an important part. After dealing with this pcint, the President 
concludes with a few words as to the future. He says :— But 
can we yet despair of the educational future of a people that 
has risen to the full height of the great emergency witn which 
they were confronted ? Can we doubt that, out of the crucible 
of fiery trial, a New England is already in the moulding ? We 
must all bow before the hard necessity of the moment. Of 
much we cannot judge. Great patience is demanded. But let 
us, who still have the opportunity of doing so, at least prepare 
for the even more serious struggle that must ensue against the 
enemy in our midst, that gnaws our vitals. We have to deal 
with ignorance, apathy, the non-scientific mental attitude, the 
absorption of popular interest in sports and amusements. 
THE GOVERNMENT AND MUSEUMS. 
And what, meanwnile, is the attitude of those in power—of 
our Government, still more of our permanent officials? A 
cheap epigram is worn threadbare in oder to justify the 
ingrained distrust of expert, in other words of scientific, advice 
on the part of our public offices. We hear, indeed, of ‘ Com- 
missions ’ and ‘ Enquiries,’ but the inveterate attitude of our 
rulers towards the higher interests that we are here te promote 
is too clearly shown by a single episode. It is those higher 
interests that are the first to be thrown to the wolves. All 
are agreed that special treasures should be stored in positions 
Naturalist, 
