1904] Baskerville — Science and the People. 79 



petition in doing- good. The blanket of ignorance may be 

 lifted a bit higher here than there, but each lifts and gives 

 the fresh air of knowledge to those smothering beneath. 



So, my friends, in fulfilling the responsibilities begotten of 

 the honor, allow me in closing to give my conception of the 

 destiny of this academy. 



Man depends much for his happiness upon the sympathy of 

 those around him; "it is rare to one with courage to pursue 

 his own ideals in spite of his surroundings." So science 

 thrives best where societies exist for its advancement. Science 

 speaks a universal language and knows no geographical, poli- 

 tical or social boundaries, otherwise Humphrey Davy would 

 never have been so cordially entertained by his French col- 

 leagues when the shores of England and France bristled with 

 bayonets in bloody antagonism. Then let us thank God for 

 the brotherhood of science, for the science, the spirit of mod- 

 ern science, is at war with war. The right spirit of science 

 is that of patient inquiry; of longing for the truth, cost what 

 it may in brain power, energy, money or self denial; it is the 

 spirit of cooperation as wide as the needs of man; of construc- 

 tive effort through slow accretion by many years. "The 

 touch of science makes the whole world kin." 



