ers, and in which the laborers have as much pride and selfrespect and as well defined privileges as the nobleman whose estates they work.

But I must stop. I cannot tell you of an Imperial reception at Schönbrunn and the Burg in Vienna, or the delightful weekly receptions on behalf of the Emperor, at the residence of Baron von Zagern, or the visit to Klosterneuburg, or to Vöslau, Baden, Mödling and the Brühl.

After this sketch of an experience somewhat unusual, you will naturally ask what impression was left upon me as to the relative place held by these people in the best civilization. We were enchanted with Hungary. The fascination of the hospitable, cordial, enthusiastic, handsome people, was something rare to experience. The transition from serfdom to freedom has been so wisely conducted that you may see all the grace and charm of feudal times, mingling in perfect harmony with the new order of things. The Austrian court is recognized as the most refined in the world. Doubtless each people has characteristics that favorably distinguish it from all others, and possibly an American might be unable to give absolute precedence over all to any one people. I asked the question one day of one of my colleagues from Berlin, as to which European state stood first in general culture. His reply surprised me. It was, “Bohemia, beyond all question." On the whole, from the little I saw, I think I should acquiesce in this judgment. It was in Bohemia that Baron Horsky's estates are situated, which probably present the finest farming in the worldfinest as an exhibition of the application of science to the various branches of the art of agriculture, and most satisfactory as an exhibition of financial success. One is a little blinded on such excursions as were made by the jurors, and probably no trustworthy opinion can be formed at such times. Baron Horsky was an excellent illustration of the advantages of a thorough technical education applied to farming. He had indeed nothing for the foundation of his career and fortune, except the training of a Bohemian boy. Most of us know little about Bohemia, except that in ele

gant and fancy glass-ware it has from our earliest recollection maintained its ascendancy over the rest of the world. We might presume that in a country whose claims to such high position are conceded by neighboring states at the outset, that we should find deference to age, ready recognition. of worth, respect for steady industry, high average of general health, and organization of labor in all its departments. These you do find.

An American lady, who had been passing the summer in a Bohemian village, returned in the same steamer with myself. In conversing about the characteristics of the people, which she enumerated with great particularity, and expressing herself surprised at the contrast they presented to the characteristics of the Anglo-Saxons on either side of the Atlantic, she closed with the remark, "And we talk of sending missionaries to Bohemia.

As for myself, I can speak best of their illustrations for object teaching which were seen in the department of Education at the World's Exposition. The Bohemian geological and topographical work took precedence over all others, in originality of design, in elegance and finish. It occurred to me that there must have been completed for Bohemia what the Ordnance survey has commenced for England, -with this difference in favor of Bohemia, as I gathered, that for the individual schools in each district there are models and collections marvelously detailed, which could only have been perfected by the pupils of the whole schools. uniting in the work. It was as if one class in the Rensselaer Institute should devote its Saturdays and its vacations, for the years of its undergraduate life, to producing a model of the trough of the Hudson, embracing the region of Cohoes on the North, and extending to and including the Wynantskill on the south. The model should display the rocks below and above, the soils, the forest trees, the swamps, the ponds, lakes, springs, streams and water power, roads, bridges, and sites of factories. What a model might be made! Another class might take the botany, and another the zoology; another the manufacturing industries.

Besides this, individuals might take specialties, being careful to make the field sufficiently narrow to accomplish something. For example, one might devote his whole labor to the habits of a particular enemy of the apple, and present actual specimens of the insect in all stages of its development, and then larger models for use in teaching. But I had almost forgotten that this was the very plan encouraged by Prof. Eaton, our early master. It was in following a kindred suggestion that the schools of some of the States of the old world have, I suppose, without large grants of governmental aid, placed their schools in the foremost rank. It was by the evolution of this system, the germs of which were planted by Prof. Eaton, that there has grown the stately Institute which is our pride and glory to-day. May it not be by prosecuting the same original plan, that you may not only maintain your present ascendancy, but continue to keep the lead in your particular field, in the Western world.

ADDRESS BY HENRY SEDLEY, ESQ.,

OF NEW YORK.

CLASS OF 1848.

When Lord Macauley spoke in favor of removing the civil disabilities of the Jews, he reminded the house of commons of a certain saying of Sir James Mackintosh. This saying was uttered in the same chamber, and was to the effect that the strength of the case of the Jews was a serious inconvenience to their advocate; since it was hardly possible to make a speech for them without wearying the audience by repeating truths which were universally admitted. It is much the same, I. think, with the case of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Its good wine needs no bush of flowering advertisements or of complimentary rhetoric. Fifty years of use have proved its quality and tested its effects. Through the length and breadth of the land its name is "great in mouths of wisest censure;" and, least of all, in the beautiful city which for half a century has honored the Institute, and been honored by it, are needed words thus manifestly shown to be of superfluous eulogy. Still, just as on festal occasions, ornaments are permissible that would be in bad taste for everyday wear, the garlands and trappings of praise may be forgiven perhaps, on an occasion like this; an occasion that must always be memorable in the history of the Institute; an occasion that marks the rounding of a systematical epoch in the record of her usefulness and in her fame. And, if the children of a cherished mother may thus be indulged, for once, in decking her austere front in holiday attire, the egotism of personal reminiscence may be pardoned, he

trusts, in one of those children, illustrating as it does, the material teachings and example wherewith he was sent forth to buffet with the world.

I ask leave, then, to narrate to you some cursory personal adventures of a young graduate immediately on leaving the Institute many years ago, and which happened to be cast in that romantic land of gold, which has since filled so large a space in the eyes of our own country, and indeed of the whole world. Few here need to be told that in those days the course of study at the Institute was much less extended than it now is. I do not believe that, so far as it went, it was less thorough. But it was completed in less time, and youths were admitted at an earlier age; so that occasionally, as in my own case, the course was finished and the diploma gained before it could legally be bestowed. Thus it happened that I first saw the Golden Gate at an age when most lads are pursuing their studies; a circumstance that has interest only as showing that in spite of a liberal allowance of the crudeness, presumption and experience of boyhood, I was able, thanks to what the Institute had done for me, not only to fight my way, but to turn a very pretty penny in a short time by the operation.

And this exemplifies the point to which I venture especially to direct attention, which is, the exceptionally practical character of the Institute's training. In doing so, I must be allowed to disregard both the obvious imputation and the natural promptings of vanity, and say at once that my mental qualities as an engineer, were certainly no more than mediocre, while I had positive physical disqualifications. Barring some share of resolution and industry, then the little I achieved was entirely due to the Institute. Thrown absolutely upon my own resources, without guardian or responsible adviser, being I should add without capital, save my moderate fund of knowledge and a few engineering instruments, my case, fresh from the Institute as I was, afforded a pretty good, and certainly, tolerably severe test of its merits. Well, facts and figures are now greatly in vogue, and I am going to tell you exactly what I did. In my first four