274 
PHARMACEUTICAL MEETING. 
amount of attention, and yet derive very different benefit from it. One will 
bring away indistinct general impressions such as the arguments and illustra¬ 
tions made on his mind at the moment; the other will have possessed himself 
of a clear and definite outline of the natural law, of which the arguments and 
illustrations were only intended as the support. 
In learning a principle, strive to know the phenomena from which it has 
been deduced; in the acquirement of facts, seek to associate them with the 
laws by which they are explained. A problem which you have worked out 
for yourselves will remain your own ; whilst one you have accepted easily on 
hearsay is likely as easily to slip from your memory. It has often been said, 
and it cannot be too often repeated, that “ there is no royal road to know¬ 
ledge.” Truly there is no smooth highway, and the many tempting byeways 
that diverge from the straight course, green, sunny, and seductive, that pro¬ 
mise to lead to the same goal, soon show, though winding and deceptive and 
not easily traced, that to whatever end they do lead it is not the one desired. 
You may know them only by one fact, they always tend, just a little, down¬ 
wards. The right road is up-hill,—rough near its outset and marred by ob¬ 
stacles that at a little distance look formidable. These are surmounted by 
toil and perseverance, but the achievement brings new spirit into the work,— 
the byeways lose their fascination and new difficulties are sought rather than 
avoided. The condition in which the drudgery of the onset becomes a 
labour of love, is attainable by any of you, and, until it is attained, scientific 
progress is hard and uncertain. Would you strive for it, the watchword is 
Thorough ! 
These remarks on the spirit of right study need some corresponding allu¬ 
sion to a subject not less important in its influence, namely, recreation. By 
recreation, I mean the employment of that considerable portion of the avail¬ 
able time of each day which is not occupied by lectures, laboratory or museum 
work, and similar duties. Part of this leisure is properly given up to relaxa¬ 
tion, that is to amusement, pure and simple ; and, whilst pursued within right 
limits, so that the indulgence does not cause a distaste for more serious em¬ 
ployment, no one will grudge the time so spent. It is the complete unbend¬ 
ing that preserves the elasticity of the bow, and the mind requires equally its 
seasons of relief from strain. But it is necessary to bear in mind that amuse¬ 
ment is no part of your present object, and it should be regarded as an indul¬ 
gence, sometimes admissible, rather than as a primary consideration in stu¬ 
dent-life. It would be impossible to lay down a distinct line between right 
and wrong amongst the recreations which lie within that moral law whose 
obligations we all admit. Amusement harmless to one, may, from the fasci¬ 
nation it exercises over a differently constituted mind, be baneful to another. 
Mental and physical requirements differ in each individual, but one axiom is 
true alike for all,—when a pursuit, however harmless it may appear, presents 
attractions that lead to the neglect of duties, or when it is followed by a re¬ 
action of listlessness and enervation, it proclaims its own unsuitability. Take 
amusement in moderation, and of such a sort as leaves the appetite for 
study unimpaired. Bear in mind that self-denial brings its own speedy 
reward. 
I do not hold, as many appear to do, that London differs materially from 
other great cities in its moral atmosphere. It is true that in some respects 
temptations are more rife, but it is at least equally true that opportunities for 
good are more conspicuous than in smaller places. There is a larger choice 
for both good and evil, and in no respect is this more manifest than in the 
range of amusement. Still there is a lesson to be drawn from the saddening 
as from the cheering experience of the past, and those whose connection with 
this school enables them to dwell on former Sessions, will call to mind many 
