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used it is worth more to the nation than all it can cost, more 
than any amount of money hoarded in individual hands. The 
wealth of a millionaire who ignores the common obligation of 
citizens to contribute to the public welfare is, in one sense, of 
no more value to the community in which he lives, than the 
daily hire won by the needy laborer, and entitles him to no 
greater respect. 
Those who assist the cause of education in any of the depart¬ 
ments according to their means, aid the ignorant and vulgar to 
be wiser and better, and thus help to perfect our system of 
government. It is believed that many of its imperfections of 
administration are fairly ascriable to the ignorance of the 
majority. Therefore, as long as intelligent and educated men 
of wealth and leisure selfishly abstain from public affairs, and 
remain indifferent to the intellectual condition and progress of 
illiterate voters, among whom they dwell, so long will they find 
themselves unsatisfactorily governed. In this connection much 
remains to be done in our midst, through the joint efforts of 
individuals, to enlighten the masses, and accelerate the progress 
of all those pursuits which belong to civilization and among 
these, the study of nature especially claims consideration. 
In what we have attempted to urge, we hope there may be 
found justification, not only for the importunate appeal we 
make, but also for the generous, intelligent, and public-spirited 
to contribute to our object. 
W. S. W. RUSCHENBERGER, 
Chairman of the Board of Trustees. 
