St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-12-17

WreSt from nature her secrets. MS COZ
lection is the offspring of past inventions !;
it may prove to be the parent of many
future inventions.
But not alone the mechanical arts may
get lessons Of wisdom from the museum
and laboratory. One of the publications
of the Smithsonian Institute is a mono
graph of over fifty pages with elaborate
illustrations on the Anatomy of the
Nervous System of the Rama Pipiens, !"
which being interpretated is the common
bull-frog.
l doubt not that this publication has
often been sneered at in the language of
Judas, What a waste? p But if it help
in the least to the understanding of that
fearful and wonderful structure, the
nervous system in animal life, essentially
alike in the lower animals and in man
and so liable to disease in our country in
time, who shall estimate the value of
such researches? The aesthetic aspects
of nature as seen in a museum would be a
most inviting theme. In what gallery
of the worlds art will you see as much
beauty OF form and color as in this
museum? When l read that the Creator
looked upon his work and behold, it was
very good, | love to fancy the JOY he had
in making things of beauty, antelopes,
pheasants, shells and coral; in spending
cedars, but upon ferns and MOSES; and
even disporting, as it were, in such
grotesque creations orchids and
cactuSeS, lizards and monkeys.
Such a museum also furnishes both op-
portunity and incentive to the pursuit of
natural science by a professional and
business man. Every such man needs in
addition to his vocation an avocation,
an employment, that is, which will
probably occupy his spare hours and
give relief and refreshment to both body
and mind. There can be no better illustra-
ton of the point in hand than this very
collection, which understand has furnish
ed to Col. Fairbanks his avocation for
thirty years, and which in the midst of an
extensive business has given him health
full and emo bling recreation. 1t is mis-
taken psychology which induces a bust
ness man to choose a recreation which
comes as near as possible to mental
vacancy-some trifiing pursuit, such as
making collection of things useless and
meaningless. So long as the mind is
awake it must have occupation, and
even ones avocation should have dignity,
and if possible, some usefulness. To
large class OF minds the pursuit of
natural science offers the most charm
ing and exhilarating of all occupations.
this Museum if it suggests and encourages
and guides such employment of leisure, If
from this Museum as centre, busy men
and women, even youths and children,
go forth to spend minutes of every day
and hours of holidays, in search of new
wonders in Gods vast, uneXplOred
creation, and come back with healt hful
cheeks and hearts aglow, bringing not
only new treasures for this evergrowing
collection, but new and inspiring thoughts
to sustain and elevate the everyday
work of life.
This brings us naturally to the highest
use we can make of this Museum, to the
highest use we can make of anything, its
religious use, that use of it which brings
us near to God and brings divine in
fluences into human life. 1t has been
said that the undevout astronomer is
mad. We may say with equal truth
that the undevout student of natural
science is mad. What heart must we
have who can gaze upon the wonders of
plant and animal lite upon the skill
laviShed on the m1nutest creatures with
infinite variety OF form, color, structure,
and motion, in which creation luxuriates
and revels, and not be prompted to ex-
claim, "Oh, Lord, how manifold are thy
works, in wisdom hast thou made them
ALL" Does anyone in our inquisitive age
ask for evidences of religion, for proofs
of Gods being and government and
providence More clearly than ever be-
fore in the history of mankind 1.-The in
visible things of him are manifest from
the things that are made, even his
eternal power and Godhead." Does any
one desire to get still nearer to Gods
heart and to feel sure that he has low
ing care for his children? Remember the
words of the Lord Jesus, how he babe
his followers learn this lesson not from
the heavenly bodies, which overwhelm
us with a sense of our insignificance, not
from Gods government of the world
which often seems to forget the individual
in the mass, not even from Holy Writ,
assuring and comforting as this is, but
from the lily and the sparrow. And
there are many who could tell you from
personal experience that in this he spoke
not in vain; that when neither sun nor
star, neither experience nor scripture,
has awaited to bring cheer to the over
burdened spirit, Gods loving care for
things that creep, and scurry, and swim,
and f1v, and sing, and how much more
for you, has brought to them, the needed
message of assurance and peace.
To the favored inhabitants of St. Johns
bury and its vicinity the benefits of this
Museum of Natural Science will most
Immediately accrue. But as 1T is and is
likely to be the best-equipped Museum of
Natural Science in the state, it will
naturally attract visitors and students
from all sections and will be a centre of
scientific activity, receiving from and
transmitting to all parts of the state and
of neighboring states the result of
scientific interest and research. We who
are interested in all good learning and
all institutions which promote it, take
great pleasure in congratulating you,
Col. Fairbanks, on the successful compile
ton of this long cherished design, and
henceforth will number this among the
institutions of which our state has good
reason to be proud, and from which we
may expect great and lasting benefits to
the interests of education, science and
religion among our people.
THE RECEPTION.