The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-09-14
Pref. HuxIey's Address TO the Ameri-
can Scientific Association, 80

Pref. HuXley's Address 10 the Amerl'
can Scientific ASSOCIATION, -
BUFFALO, Aug. 25.-Prof. Huxley
arrived here last night, and attended
the meeting, of the American Associa-
ton this morning. He was introduced
by the President, Prof Rogers, in few
fitting remarks of welcome. The au-
dience was very large and enthusiastic.
Prof. Huxley replied substantially as
follows:
= Permit me in the first place to offer
you my most hearty thanks for this,
would not say unexpected welcome, be-
cause every where since l landed IN
America it has been of this kind; but
for this very cordial and hearty well
come. You will forgive me If my
phraseology is inadequate, for have
always thougbtit the highest eloquenee
to condense whatever there is to be sud
in the fewest words. / have been told
that it would be gratifying to you TO
have me say something, but emotion
will make my speaking a difficult task.
Also, Ihave no scientific matter to COM
municate, and [ am unprepared. Since
my arrival have discovered that the
special instinct of curiosity is altogether
developed here. l experienced 1t al
most Immediately on my arrival IN be-
ing interviewed by two active and IN
telligent Representatives of your press,
who put to me a series of inquiries CT
deepest and most profound interest.
each of which would require treatise
in reply; and | am afraid L had to as
miss them with scant courtesy. 1t may
satisfy their curiosity if L state briefly
some of my general impressions OF this
country.
Since my arrival l have learned a
great many things,-more, L think,
than ever before in an equal space Of
time in my life. In England we have
always taken lively interest in Amer
lea; but | think no Englishman who
has not had the good fortune to visit
America has any real conception Of the
activity of the population, the enor-
nous distances which separate the
great centres; and least of all do En-
glishmen understand how identical is
the great basis of character on both
sides of the Atlantic. An Englishman
with whom | have been talking since
my arrival says: 81 can not find that |
am abroad.h The great features of
your country are all such as | am IA
miliar with in parts of England and
Scotland. Your beautiful Hudson re
minds me of Scotch lake. The marks
of glaciation in your hills remind me
of those in Scottish highlands.
| had heard of the degeneration of
your stock from the English type. /
have not perceived it. Some years ago
one of your most distinguished men of
letters, equally loved and admired in
England and America, expressed an
opinion which touched English feeling
somewhat keenly-that there was a
difference between your women and
ours after reaching a certain age. He
said our English women were "beefy."
That is his word, not mine. Well,
have studied the aspect of the
people that / have met here in steam
boats and railway carriages, and | meet
with Just the same faces, the main diff
ference as to the men being in the way
of shaving. Thought should be sorry
to use the word which Hawthorne did,
yet in respect to stature for fine, pOrtly
women, l think the average here fully
as great as on the other side. Some
people talk of the injurious influence OF
climate. | have seen no trace of the
"North American type" You have
among you the virtue which is most
notable among the savages, that Of
hospitality. You take us to bounti.
full dinner, and are not quite satisfied
unless we take away with us the plates
and spoons. Another feature has i'm
pressed itself upon me. l have visited
some of your great universities, anC
meet men as well known in the Ole
! World as in the New. | find certain
differences here. The English uni
versities are the product of Govern
ment, yours of private munitcence
That among us is almost unknown
The general notion of an Englishmal
when he gets rich is to found an estate
and benefit his family. The genera
notion of an American when fortunat,
is to do something for the good of tn,
people, and from which benefits shall
continue to flow. The latter is tn
nobler ambition.
1t is popularity said abroad that yo1
have no antiquities in America. If yol
talk about the trumpery of three or fOu
thousand years of history, it is true
But, in the large sense, as referring +
times before man made his momentar
appearance, America is the place +
study the antiquities of the globe. Th
reality of the enormous amount of ma
terial here has far surpassed my antici
patton. have studied the collection
gathered by Prof. Marsh, at New Ha
ven. There is none like it in Europe
not only in extent of time covered, bu
by reason of its bearing on the probler
of evolution. Whereas, before this co
lection was made, evolution was a mat
ter of speculative reasoning, it is now
matter of fact and history, as much a
the monuments of Egypt. In that CO.
lection are the facts of the successiO
of forms and the history of their evolU
ton. All that now remains to be aske
is, How? and that is subordinate quei
ton. With such matters as this befor
my mind, you will excuse me if l ca
not find thoughts appropriate to thi
occasion. would that I might hav
offered something more worthy; but
hope that your Association may do wha
the British Association is doing-ma
SOW the seeds of scientific inquiry i
your cities and villages, whence sha
arise a process of natural selection b
which those minds best fitted for tn
task may be led to help on the work i
which we are all interested. Again
thank you for your excessive courtesy
and, may almost say, afiectionate re
ception.
The HOppergrass-What Kind Of
| Fipura He Makes in Minnesota