MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



7 



Association, by encouraging and aiding such bodies, can in a most efficient 

 way promote the growth of the community on intellectual lines and foster 

 a love for those studies " which nourish youth and cheer old age ; which 

 adorn prosperity, and are the comfort and refuge of adversity. " 



These new opportunities for service and development, now crow^ding so 

 fast upon this unique institution, naturally recall to mind the memory 

 and labors of him who, in such a large measure, made all these things 

 possible. William Rice, in his interest in the museum of science, showed 

 in an eminent degree that broad sympathy and clear foresight wdiich 

 characterized all his work for the association and the community. And 

 herein was revealed the abundant resources of the man. The rapid devel- 

 opment of the department of natural history came when his years were 

 many, at a time in life when most men have sharply defined habits of 

 mind and fixed bounds of interest. Dr. Rice, though his attention had 

 been largely centered in books and the work of the library, at every step 

 in the development of the museum showed a quick apprehension of the 

 possibilities of the collections and a fine appreciation of the place of this 

 department in the great work of the association. In his delight over each 

 addition, he showed all the eagerness of youth. Indeed, the City Library 

 Association, as it assumes new responsibilities and multiplies its activities, 

 is but expressing the dominant characteristic of that spirit, which swept 

 an ever widening circle to the last. 



William Orr, Jr. 



Museum of Natural History. 



Tuesday, May 3, 1898. 



