XXVI 



probably never will be a better all-around observer, discoverer, or de- 

 scriber of things new, rare and interesting. 



Among- the several founders, there was especially Dr. Carroll, a man of 

 scientific instinct and inspiration who, though not a field worker in the 

 ordinary sense, helped furnish the spirit which founded this institution 

 in the right way. 



Then Charles W. Leng, with his beetles, thousands of them, so many 

 that he does not know how many he has; an authority on many orders, 

 a man to whom government officials refer, and to whom they will lend 

 almost anything in the national collection. 



Thomas Craig with his microscope, who has long since left us; Grat- 

 acap; with a wise eye for geology; Chapin with his birds; Dr. Dowell 

 in botany; Morris and Delavan in local histor}'; and Pepper and Skinner 

 in archeologieal research; all have brought forth much, while a dozen 

 others have contributed their quota to the active work which has made 

 the Association more than a name. Each in his own way has done 

 something and taken a pleasure in the doing. It is withal a modest ef- 

 fort, but in the aggregate it has given the Association not only a credit- 

 able place among its larger fellows, but it has frequently been referred 

 to at various times and in rnany places as an ideal natural science associa- 

 tion, whose methods were worthy of copy. 



When I was president, I was several times asked how we held to- 

 gether and how we could keep up the work, especially with what others 

 in their greater localities regarded as our limited opportunities. The 

 answer then, as now, was that this association was the real thing. It 

 was doing serious work of quality and cared not for quantity. Every- 

 thing was done for the love of it, and men tramped fields and found 

 and discussed things in a true scientific spirit; we were in pleasant 

 social relationship and together played with what was really more than 

 play. This is the right spirit. Cold stones and often living things are 

 not interesting except as they appeal to something within us that be- 

 comes interesting. The contemplation of science is a personal attribute, 

 which must lie within those who delve in it, and it is only when it. 

 comes out of them and centers about that with which they are in con- 

 tact that it becomes a real moving thing which creates and perpetuates 

 interest. It is this which gives warrant for the organization whose 

 continuance and prosperity we celebrate tonight. 



If time permitted, I would like to tell of many things we have found 

 on this Island, but that leads to a story too long. It may, however, 

 be of passing interest to remark that we have a most exceptional col- 

 lection of drift fossils, which have a distinct bearing upon the know- 



