276 THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



the scientific explorer. There are no 

 countries in many ways more interesting 

 than these countries as regards the gran- 

 deur and the peculiar character of their 

 scenery, and as regards the extraordi- 

 nary spectacle presented by the unex- 

 ampled and exuberant resources of na- 

 ture. I do not think anything in the 

 world is more striking than the resources 

 of nature as in a South American forest. 



Therefore I can console you by telling 

 you that there is still a great deal re- 

 maining for geographers to do, and that 

 there is a field open to any geographer 

 who will devote himself to that conti- 

 nent. We in Great Britain have sent 

 thither many explorers, and I hope we 

 may send^many more. You here I hope 

 will join us in this effort. In the re- 

 moter part of these countries the idea of 

 exploring for purely scientific purposes 

 has hardly reached the peasantry. Every- 

 body is supposed to be looking for mines 

 hidden in the days of the Incas. But if 

 you will play your cards judiciously you 

 may fc r a time at least facilitate your 

 searches. 



Ladies and gentlemen, let me thank 

 you for the opportunity of being present 

 among you this evening. Let me tell you 

 that in addition to the enjoyment you 

 will have if any of you go there in add- 

 ing new realms to knowledge, you will 

 also have one of the greatest pleasures 

 that the poetical and philosophical mind 

 can enjoy, in contemplating these scenes 

 of nature, which open much that is not 

 to be paralleled elsewhere, which give 

 one a lively sense of what that magnifi- 

 cent continent will become when its re- 

 sources have been further developed. 



the; toastm aster, gen. john m. wilson 



The honor seldom comes to a soldier 

 to present such a magnificent body as 

 this to his Commander-in-Chief, as I pro- 

 pose to do in a very few minutes. We 

 have with us the President of the United 

 States, a man who has never failed in 

 any duty, who has won the love and re- 

 spect and admiration of the American 

 people without regard to politics, who 



today stands before the world as a great 

 and magnificent chieftain of a nation of 

 93 million people within its own limits, 

 and who waves the American flag over 

 8 million more for their protection. It 

 gives me pleasure to present this Society 

 and its guests to the President of the 

 United States, whom we also greet as 

 one of the five honorary members of the 

 Society. 



the; president of the united states, 

 hon. wm. h. taft 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the National 

 Geographic Society: It is always a great 

 comfort to be at a meeting presided over 

 by General Wilson. He conducts it as a 

 military man. I have always thought 

 that even the Speaker might learn some- 

 thing from General Wilson, and I com- 

 mend him to Brother Champ Clark as to 

 how to carry on a deliberative assembly. 



I am very much honored to be made 

 an honorary member of the Geographic 

 Society. I do not think I deserve it, but 

 not for that reason will I decline the 

 honor and the membership. 



One has a constant source of regret 

 for what he loses as he sees the oppor- 

 tunities pass by in life. As I stand in this 

 presence and look at Mr. Grosvenor, I 

 am constantly reminded of the valuable 

 information that he is giving to the 

 public through the Geographic Magazine 

 that I have to pass over because I do 

 not have time to read it ; and if this 

 association is maintained for the purpose 

 of carrying on that Magazine, I am sure 

 it can justify its existence. 



The British Ambassador has referred 

 to a number of places to which the Na- 

 tional Geographic Society might direct 

 its attention. I wish to add two more. 

 One is Sumatra and the other is the 

 Philippines. We are doing a good deal 

 in the Philippines in the way of attempt- 

 ing to develop that country, but there is 

 a great opportunity for a scientific survey 

 of the islands with respect to a great 

 many data that would give us exact in- 

 formation that we do not now have. In 

 the enthusiasm of a desire to do every- 

 thing in the Philippines at once, I sug- 



