September 2, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



271 



nents, following the pathway of stars, or 

 whether she delights to follow the minutest 

 particles revealed by microscopic research. 



Governor Wolcott then described at 

 leng-fch in an eloquent and scholarly manner 

 the many benefits coming to the world by 

 the researches of men of science, and, con- 

 tinuing, compared them to the men who 

 have erected lighthouses on the coast, guid- 

 ing and directing the course of those who 

 will come after them. He spoke of the 

 infinite possibilities of science, and said that, 

 in spite of the great advances that have 

 been made, little is known to-day of the 

 mysteries of nature, so elusive is its touch. 



It is for you, he said, little by little, as 

 the years and centuries go on, with faithful 

 and painstaking search, to learn a little 

 more of that great ocean of truth and to 

 launch your barks a little farther on the 

 sea of science, and to know more about the 

 stars, the plants, the pebbles and the shells. 

 The truth is that science is still sweeping 

 beyond you and is beckoning you to follow 

 her. Science would be less worthy of our 

 regard if its benefits should be limited to 

 any class, but it is open to all. 



It is as men of science that the Common- 

 wealth welcomes you to-day. May you 

 bear away from this meeting pleasant mem- 

 ories of the State, rich in the valor and 

 achievements of her sons. And may you 

 leave behind you that inspiration which is 

 fostered and cherished by men who are 

 bi'ought together to compare notes and 

 clasp hands and carrj' back memories of 

 this meeting. The Commonwealth greets 

 you and expresses to you her recognition, 

 and bids yovi welcome to the old Bay State. 



Mayor Quincy, being introduced, spoke 

 as follows : We are grateful to you for 

 giving us an opportunity of seeing you 

 here, that we may listen to your delib- 

 erations and exercises, and for having 

 the privilege of entertaining you in some 

 measure. I may say in truth that there 



is no other city in this country which 

 would appreciate more highly the privi- 

 lege of having this anniversary meeting 

 held within its borders than the city of 

 Boston. I think I may claim with truth 

 that in no citj'' is science held in higher es- 

 teem, in no city is the great work of science 

 and the widespread beneficence of its re- 

 sults more recognized than in the city of 

 Boston. There is no organization to which 

 we would more gladly open our doors than 

 to your American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science. Your work has a 

 very direct relation to the work in which 

 the people of the city of Boston are engaged, 

 in their corporate capacity, and the work 

 which their municipal government is trying 

 to prepare for them. As I regard it, the 

 work of good municipal government is the 

 task of securing the practical application of 

 the principles of science to the great fund 

 of knowledge which has been won for us 

 by science. I am continually impressed 

 in my practical relation to the work of this 

 great city with the vital relation which 

 science bears to that work. More efficient 

 government is to be sought along the lines 

 of affairs which fall within the scope of our 

 municipal government, and this is to be 

 won for us by the investigators who have 

 increased their knowledge of science within 

 the last fifty years. 



I trust and believe that this interesting 

 occasion may do something for us as well 

 as something for the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science, and I hope 

 that among other benefits it may give to 

 our citizens as a whole a greater apprecia- 

 tion of what science is and of what science 

 does; and not only of what science does in 

 the abstract or in the way of theoretical in- 

 vestigation, but demonstrate the value of 

 science as the handmaid of civilization 

 which enlarges the views of mankind and 

 lifts society up to the highest plane of 

 thought. If the first result is economy ia 



