Meetings, 1889. 



117 



Randell, Mr. Sharp, the Honorary Secretary, Mr. Spencer, 

 and others, for the sight of different interesting specimens, and 

 the results of various local scientific research. 



While, however, the Society happily possesses a few 

 indefatigable workers, yet I cannot but regard it as a matter of 

 regret that a greater number of people —especially of the 

 young people among us— do not take a more lively and intelli- 

 gent interest in these scientific pursuits. I must say that I am 

 grieved— sincerely grieved, — when attending not only the 

 meetings of this particular Society, but any others where mere 

 amusement does not form the principal part of the programme, 

 to find the very small proportion of young men in attendance. 

 It is my sincere wish, as well as that of my friend Mr. Alles, 

 to do all that lies in our power to stimulate and foster a spirit 

 of scientific enquiry. The Society has also stirred itself in the 

 same direction, by the offer of prizes and other means. But 

 yet a very regretable amount of apathy prevails, and how to 

 get rid of this, and implant in its place a spirit of intelligent 

 enquiry, is a problem which hitherto we appear not to have 

 been able to solve. There have been so many things to do in 

 connection with the arrangement and organization of the 

 Library, that Mr. Alles and I have not yet been able to carry 

 out all we intend to do in our endeavours to interest the young 

 men and women of the island in higher and nobler intellectual 

 pursuits than those in which some of them at least now too 

 often spend their time. L'appetit vient en mangeant, is a truism 

 which is specially applicable to the delights of science and 

 literature ; but the difficulty seems to be to persuade our young 

 folks to take the first delicious mouthful, which shall reveal to 

 them those intellectual tastes and pleasures unknown before, 

 and so create in them a desire for more of this same enlighten- 

 ing and elevating pabulum which strengthens the soul for 

 nobler and loftier achievements ; which contains no roots of 

 bitterness or germs of disappointment ; and which never can 

 weary, or surfeit, or cloy. 



