the decline of others in each area that is studied; (2) the change in the quality of the citizens themselves through racial, educational, and other factors, noting how far ideals are altering, not only in the mass of individuals taken as a whole, but also by examining the changing outlook in every trade and profession.  With these two parallel lines of investigation to study, we could then determine how far environment—­social and climatic—­how far racial and individual characteristics have been powerful in the moulding of the fabric around us.

With these two lines of study to our hands, we could predict the vitality, the growing power, and the future possibilities of the social life of which we are a tiny though not an insignificant part; we could, knowing something of the response that we make to that which surrounds us, form some estimate of how the future ages will develop, and, knowing the [Page:  127] intensity of the different national desires for progress and the causes which are likely to arouse such desires, we could realise what will stimulate and what will retard all that is best in our civic life.

PROFESSOR EARL BARNES (in moving a vote of thanks) said: 

For years I have been accumulating a debt of obligation to Prof.  Geddes for ideas, suggestions, and large synthesis of life, and it gives me special pleasure to voice the feeling of this meeting concerning the paper read to us this afternoon.  To me, as an American, it is especially interesting to hear this presentation of life as an organic whole.  Life is but a period of education, and if there is nothing behind this present moment of life it is all extremely insignificant.  To an American, who has lived at No. 1067 in 63rd Street, Philadelphia, and at No. 1718 in G Street, in Washington, it is profoundly interesting to think of the possibility of a man’s so living that his whole existence shall be significant, so that the realities of his world, geographical, geological, and material, and all that long development of humanity through the historic past—­that all these things will be really and truly significant to him.  Prof.  Geddes has himself shown us that is possible.  Any man who has gone to Edinburgh and seen the restoration of the old life that has been carried out there under his hand knows it can be done.  I suppose we all came here to hear Professor Geddes speak on practical affairs because his name is now connected with the plans for making a city that shall be really expressive of all its potentialities to all of its people.  I am personally profoundly grateful to him for his paper; and I move you that he be given a very hearty vote of thanks.