Anniversary Address. xxxix. 



many who otherwise would have but little inclination or opportunity 

 for independent study, and the general taste will be elevated. At 

 the same time let each man who has the ability add something 

 original, in his own department of information, whether pertaining 

 to science or literature, to the common stock of knowledge. 



It is thus that we, who have derived so rich an inheritance from 

 the toils, the attempts, and even the failures of our ancestors, may, in 

 our turn, labour to lay up a store for our descendants which shall 

 make them nobler, wiser, and more enlightened than ourselves ; thus, 

 that each generation may rise superior to those which have gone 

 before ; thus, that the dreams of the Past may become the realities 

 of the Present and the starting-point for the Future. In the words 

 of the poet, — 



Thy far-off children shall possess 



That flying gleam of rainbow happiness : 



Each wish unfilled, impracticable plan, 



Goes to the forging of the force of man ; 



Thro' thy blind craving novel powers they gain, 



And the slow race develops in its pain. 



See their new joy, begotten of thy woe, 



When what thy soul desired their soul shall know ; 



Thy heights unclimbed shall be their wonted way, 



Thy hope their memory and thy dream their day. 



