THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY 69 



pensable keenness of perception and capacity for generalization 

 he has added the equally essential qualities of courage, optimism 

 and imagination, all disciplined by the rigors of patient observa- 

 tion and refined analysis. Pre-eminent as one of the pioneers 

 in this domain of astronomy, his work is no less praiseworthy for 

 its intrinsic merit than for the fruitful stimulus it has given his 

 colleagues everywhere in the same domain. He has thus helped 

 to make a science always peculiarly cosmopolitan still more 

 beneficent than it has hitherto been in promoting that fraternity 

 of interest which leads to international amity and comity. 



It is therefore the pleasant duty of the Academy, on this occa- 

 sion of its jubilee anniversary, and in the presence of this as- 

 sembly, to request the President of the United States to convey 

 the Watson Medal and honorarium to Professor Kapteyn. 



PRESIDENT WILSON : Doctor Woodward, I feel very much at 

 home in a company made up like the companies in which I have 

 been accustomed to keep a straight face. Notwithstanding my 

 knowledge of the circumstances and although I have long lived 

 in an atmosphere of studies of this sort, I have discovered that 

 the atmosphere is a non-conductive medium and none of the 

 learning of this sort has reached me. I can therefore speak 

 with perfect disinterestedness with regard to matters of this sort. 



But, speaking seriously, sir, it is a peculiar pleasure to me to 

 act in the name of this great society so long associated in an 

 advisory capacity with the Government of the United States, 

 in bestowing this medal upon so distinguished a recipient. Pro- 

 fessor Kapteyn, I take great pleasure in presenting it to you. 



DR. WOODWARD: For the promotion of astrophysical research 

 and discovery and in memory of Dr. Henry Draper, a member 

 of the National Academy of Sciences, himself a pioneer in the 

 newer science of astrophysics, his widow, Mary Anna Palmer 

 Draper, deeded to the Academy, in 1883, a fund the income 

 from which is used for the award of a gold medal in recognition 

 of work already done, or for the direct promotion of investiga- 

 tion in this science. Draper Medals have been awarded hereto- 



7 



