48 
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON. 
with virulence as a scheme in the selfish interest of a few individ¬ 
uals, and one fraught with machiaveliau political designs ; but when 
Professor Baird manifested his approval of the plan by accepting 
the first presidency of the Club after its formal organization, con¬ 
fidence in him was so dominant that suspicion was allayed and 
opposition disappeared. To him profound thanks are due for the 
timely establishment of the most important institution in the con¬ 
joint social and scientific life of Washington. 
But by his work in the organization of these several societies and 
of the Cosmos Club, Professor Baird was, as in his other fields of 
labor, a benefactor and not a participant in the benefits secured to 
others. He was imbued with the cardinal principle of the Smith¬ 
sonian Institution not only to establish and assist all useful agencies 
for the promotion of the well-being of man, but afterwards, when 
they had attained to successful operation, to leave them to them¬ 
selves and explore new fields of beneficence. It was also his own 
character, apart from any formulated maxim of the Institution, 
that he could not rest in the personal enjoyment of accomplished 
results. He was one of the ceaseless workers, born 
“ To scorn delights, and live laborious days,” 
until 
“ Comes the blind Fury with th’ abhorred shears 
And slits the thin-spun life. But not the praise! ” 
It is for us now, repressing sorrow, to join in tributes of praise to 
our benefactor. 
