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comparative study of various languages and general history of 

 races could well be brought under F, while literature and history 

 can be considered in their educational aspect and can therefore 

 be claimed by section J. 



In fact so broad is the term " Science," and so unbiassed and 

 so wide-reaching are the aims of the Association, that if the list 

 of sections is not long enough a new one could be readily added 

 to cover any new subject of interest that may be submitted to the 

 Council of the Association, and what may be said of the latter 

 body is all the more applicable to our Society, seeing that its 

 objects are stated in the Act of Incorporation to be the " en- 

 couragement of studies and investigations in Science, Art, Litera- 

 ture and Philosophy." 



There is evidently a much greater lack of the scientific spirit in 

 Australia than in Great Britain, and Europe, and America. Why 

 is it 1 Is it that people are too physically vigorous 1 As soon as 

 their work is done, and sometimes before, their whole attention 

 seems to be taken up with out-door games and amusements. 

 Is it the bright sunshine and the attractions of the open air that 

 leads to the cultivation of the physical and the neglect of mental 

 culture 1 If people generally could only be awakened to the 

 delights of a study of nature, they could enjoy the open air while 

 learning some of the mysteries of the life around them, and still 

 find time enough for healthy games and social amusements. 

 Their own life would be enlarged to them, and there would be an 

 additional pleasure in existence. 



In this Nineteenth Century when the quality and cheapness of 

 everything we use is so much the result of scientific thought and 

 discovery, people ought to be better informed. Can they not be 

 taught 1 Would it be possible to make a regular practice of 

 giving public lectures ? Could societies for the study of science 

 at home, on the same basis as the home reading societies for 

 literature be instituted 1 ? And is it possible not only to help 

 educated people but the great masses of the people to learn some- 

 thing of the secrets of science % I think all these questions can 



