L. 6. COOLEY, 11B-(S3; 



For one who is inclined to devote his leisure to the 

 study of science, even if his sole motive is self culture, 

 there is no method of pursuing it more promising than 

 this historical method. Let him select any specific sub- 

 ject, on which he would inform himself, and then let 

 him consult books and journals and the proceedings of 

 societies and glean from their pages everything relating 

 to it, noting the sources of his information at the same 

 time and let him afterward arrange it all so as to show 

 its true history and the present state of knowledge con- 

 cerning it, a.,d he will thereby attain a mastery of the 

 subject, surpassed only by that which can be attained 

 by actual contact with nature in the field and in the 

 laboratory. But in addition to self culture he may also 

 secure the consciousness that his results are an accept- 

 able contribution to science itself. 



In regard to this last point it may be said that the 

 value of such a historical contribution will, of course, be 

 higher as the contribution itself is more complete and 

 exhaustive, but further, it may be said that the skill and 

 judgment and patience needed in order to give it these 

 qualities in the highest degree, can be acquired by many 

 whose avocations or opportunities forbid any attempt to 

 engage in the still more arduous and uncertain efforts to 

 advance science by original experiments and observa- 

 tions. 



I call the attention of members of our section to this 

 kind of investigation believing that it is a needful and 

 genuine scientific work which is quite within the com- 

 pass of this society and which will clearly satisfy that 

 requirement of our by-laws which specifies among our 

 objects the promotion of useful knowledge by the inves- 

 tigation of subjects pertaining to the departments of 

 Natural, Physical and Biological Science. 



Next I would speak briefly of the second kind of work 

 to which our section is called — the work of collecting 

 and exhibiting material of scientific value. 



THE MUSEUM. 



The constitution of the general Institute requires it to 

 establish and maintain a museum of natural history, a 

 library, and a gallery of art. The preservation and 



