November 13, 1896.] 



SCIENCE. 



705 



acterize a great work without fear or favor. 

 The science of geology, as now accepted, is 

 a scant century old ; there is one among us 

 who has contributed constantly to its prog- 

 ress during two-thirds of that period. 

 American geology has come up in two- 

 thirds of a century and has become a far- 



sometimes for decades, seldom for half cen- 

 turies ; there is one among us who has 

 nearly reached the Psalmist's span in con- 

 tinuous work for the science. Many of the 

 geologists who honor this occasion with 

 their presence are hoar with time and bent 

 with weight of years ; there is one among 



JAMES HALL 1891. 



reaching science whose ramifications ex- 

 tend to many industries and contribute 

 much ta national welfare and human pleas- 

 ure ; there is one among us whose hand 

 has stayed not from the beginning to 

 the present. The development of earth- 

 science has been due to the genius and 

 devotion of many men, often for years, 



us who laid the foundation for our work 

 before most of us were born. Some of the 

 men who have made geology are known at 

 home as benefactors; others, like the 

 prophets of old, are not without honor, save 

 in their own country; a few have come to 

 be known by their works at home and 

 abroad ; there is one among us who is 



