98 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



The position occupied by the Southern California Academy 

 of Sciences is too little understood in this community. Quietly, 

 but steadily, for a dozen years, a little band of devoted workers 

 has been building up an organization which is accomplishing 

 much good in two important directions. 



First — We do not believe that its own members fully 

 realize the extent of its contributions to knowledge of local 

 natural history. 



Secondly— The Academy has stood for the popularization 

 of Science, not by cheapening nor by lowering the standard, 

 but by presenting to the public in simple language the results 

 of technical research in various branches. 



There is a spirit in the Board of Directors and in the 

 several working sections, which will not permit any falling off 

 along these lines. So far as lies in the power of the officers, 

 each succeeding year will show adequate gain in strength and 

 effectiveness. Already the Bulletin, the official mouthpiece of 

 the Academy, has taken high rank for its contributions in 

 special lines of Science. We must not stop where we are. 

 Surely there are men and women enough in Southern California 

 who are in sympathy with the purposes of this organization to 

 provide by annual dues for the mere sustentation of such an 

 institution in our midst. One good friend, whose modesty 

 keeps his name out of this writing, has always shown his faith 

 by his works; but among the many whose means are ample, 

 there are few to rise to a clear perception of what space our 

 Academy actually fills in the moral and intellectual life of this 

 region. It is not too late, but neither is it too early, to lay 

 plans for wider growth and greater influence. We sorely, 

 sorely need a home of our own, centrally located, where the 

 library we are accumulating and the museum we can have 

 without asking may be housed securely, and where the willing 

 hands we have at command may undertake the tasks which 

 belong to us, and. not to those who now perform them from 

 afar with funds supplied elsewhere. 



What will you do, kind reader, as your share in this under- 

 taking? What will you do today? If not a member, aid us by 

 joining the Academy, not only to increase needed funds, but 

 to encourage us by your presence at lectures and by sugges- 

 tions from your experience. If already one of us, do not rest 

 content until you have told others of our plans and work. If 

 you are benefited, help us to enlarge the sphere of our influ- 

 ence by adding to the membership. 



This issue of the Bulletin is especially designed as a cam- 

 paign document. Our motto is : "-Never let np, never let downV 



