26 Bulletin of the Brooklyn Entomological Society Vol. XVI 



ENTOMOLOGISTS— PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR. 



Without being invidious, we believe the nonprofessional ento- 

 mologist has the greater opportunity, if he will only avail himself 

 of it. It is the old story of Mary and Martha over again. The 

 professional Marthas are " busied with many things." The work 

 they have engaged to do bears upon them; their time is scarcely 

 their own ; their effort is circumscribed by the direct line of their 

 labors. Eventually, routine smothers them, except they be true 

 enthusiasts or hold exceptional positions. This is particularly 

 true of those in administrative and economic work. 



We amateurs have chosen the better part. With a living aris- 

 ing from other fields of effort, we are able to approach only those 

 problems that interest us with unjaded minds. And the great ad- 

 vantage is that one in another walk of life must be an enthusiast 

 to pursue success fuly an avocation alien to his daily occupations. 



Cast your eyes about you ; consider the founders of the science. 

 They have strictly arisen from the ranks of the enthusiastic non- 

 professionals. They number soldiers, priests, ministers, states- 

 men, kings, the run of mankind. On this very day, in this 

 country, we see the non-professionals among the leaders in cer- 

 tain groups. 



So we believe the greater opportunity and the greater reaponsi- 

 bihty, therefore, rest upon the enthusiastic, keen, free-lance non- 

 professional. Let him live up to these, and emulate Thomas Say 

 and like him originate lasting monuments of solid, worthy work. 



J. R. T. B. 



