46 Address — Henry C. Potter. 



As an illustration of the extent to which this system may be pursued, let 

 me quote the one city of Syracuse, where, under the rules and regulations, we 

 gave them one stereopticon, a copy of every lecture, and a set of the stereopticon 

 slides accompanying it. The Board of Education in that city has purchased 

 eight stereopticons, and has spent more for views every year than the State 

 gives. The lectures are free to all the people. In the city of Watertown the 

 city hall, almost as large a room as this, has been placed at the disposal of the 

 superintendent of schools for the very purpose of repeating the lectures which 

 have been given and will be given here. 



Thus let us extend the power of this great system of education. Morally 

 and intellectually it is an uplifting force in every community. In this way, by 

 encouraging the broadening of the system by legislative enactment, let us keep 

 at work, Mr. President, until all the people of the State are given the advantage 

 of this medium of happiness and education. Let us, in other words, have a 

 perpetual campaign of education. 



Remarks of President Jesup, introducing the Right Rev. Henry 

 C. Potter: 



" Before inviting you to the treat which Professor Bickmore has 

 in store for you, when you will see the wonderful power of our 

 new equipment for throwing lantern pictures upon these great 

 screens, I will ask our valued friend, Bishop Potter, to say just a 

 few words." 



Address of the Right Reverend Henry C. Potter : 



Ladies and Gentlemen : 



There is an eminent propriety that somebody should say a few words who 

 has no official connection with this undertaking. Their President, Mr. Clausen, 

 has represented the Park Commissioners ; Mr. Coler has represented the City 

 of New York on its financial side ; the President and Dr. Leipziger have 

 represented this institution ; and Mr. Skinner has represented the great educa- 

 tional system which is one of the chief adornments of the Empire State ; but I 

 confess I think you would agree with me that this occasion would be incomplete 

 unless somebody represented the beneficiaries ; and I claim to be one of those 

 — that large constituency, including, in one way or another, the millions of 

 people that make up the City of New York, who are to derive, and have derived, 

 the many and various benefits from the existence of the Museum of Natural 

 History, in connection with the Metropolitan Museum of Art, of which we have 

 heard something this afternoon. 



I confess I followed with sympathy and admiration the line of remark in 

 which Mr. Coler indulged in regard to the scheme of our popular education. I 

 should like to go a step further and remind you of the fact, to which, I venture 

 to say, every teacher in our public schools will bear witness, that a very large 

 proportion of the boys and girls who are forced out of the public schools at the 

 age of fifteen or thereabouts for the purpose of earning their own living, as well 

 as the very considerable proportion of those who stay in the public schools, and 

 discover for the next three or four years no particular aptitude in the direction 

 of higher learning, discover it later in life. 



Now, have we sufficiently recognized the relation of such a fact as this to 

 these Museums of Natural History and of Art? With that later life, when 

 school days are done, come, far oftener, I think, than most of us realize, two 

 things, late awakening powers and curiosities and leisure. 



What shall men and women who have done with school, but are hungry for 

 knowledge, and conscious of idle hours and unemployed faculties, do with 





