94 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1909. 



which our privileged position in the world's affairs has placed upon us. I can 

 imagine no greater distinction for the next congress than the possibility of 

 marking a further step in the development of this spirit of service and of con- 

 tinental solidarity. 



And, now, in closing, let me again extend the thanks of the delegation of the 

 United States of America to you, the members of the organizing committee, for 

 your broad grasp of the purposes of the congress and the skill with which these 

 purposes have been made real and effective: to you, our colleagues, for your 

 cordial reception of newcomers in your midst, and Anally to the Government 

 and people of Chile for the warm-hearted hospitality which we have enjoyed. 



The social features of the congress were most noteworthy. The President of 

 the Republic, besides giving the usual official reception, entertained the foreign 

 delegates at dinner, invitations being extended to a limited number each day 

 during the congress. Receptions were given under government auspices at the 

 principal social clubs. The American minister, the French, Brazilian, and 

 Argentine ministers, and numerous prominent citizens entertained the delegates. 

 Members of the American and other delegations were guests at a number of 

 charming haciendas in the vicinity of Santiago : and the American delegation 

 entertained at dinner members of the organization committee, chairmen of 

 various national delegations, and others. Visits were made to institutions of 

 learning, museums, art galleries, hospitals, and manufacturing establishments, 

 and no effort was spared by the officials of the congress to make the visit of 

 the foreign delegates enjoyable and profitable. The writer wishes to express 

 his personal appreciation of these courtesies and attentions, and to say that he 

 approached South America somewhat oppressed by the thought that he should 

 find himself a stranger in a strange land, but that, on the contrary, there was 

 not a day of the two months spent in the Latin-American countries on which 

 he was not made to feel entirely at home and among appreciative and generous 

 friends. 



The universal feeling at the close of the congress was that the meeting had 

 fully justified the plans of its projectors; and the story is not entirely told 

 when it is stated that the elaborate programme, covering nearly every branch 

 of science, was successfully carried out. The more thoughtful find in this and 

 in kindred assemblages much that is of significance for the future of the 

 American republics. This congress was a decided step in the direction of bring- 

 ing about a better understanding among the nations represented. It was a step 

 toward a fuller appreciation of the common interests of each and every Ameri- 

 can nation. It was an appreciable forward step in the development of the 

 means and methods of promoting the common interests of the continent. It 

 was a step toward making the experience and the accumulated wisdom of each 

 people represented the experience and wisdom of all. In the section of peda- 

 gogy the best that has been developed in the theory and practice of teaching 

 was made the common property of all the American republics. In the section 

 of sanitary and medical science the latest achievements of each nation in the 

 battle with disease were made familiar to every participant. In the section of 

 agriculture and zootechnics steps were taken in the direction of properly utiliz- 

 ing and conserving the resources of the continent in these important realms. In 

 the section of engineering the best methods of overcoming the various physical 

 obstacles to progress and of winning the riches of the earth were explained for 

 the benefit of all America. In the section of government and law the principles 

 of statecraft and the administration of justice were discussed for the benefit of 

 every American government. In the section of the fiscal sciences practical 

 methods of conducting the monetary affairs of the nations were presented and 



