CONGRESS OF APPLIED CHEMISTRY 553 



to his meaning. The directness of his thought finds corresponding 

 expression in his words and they carry conviction to the minds of his 

 hearers, while his kindly smile serves to enlist their sympathies and 

 approval. 



His greatest work has been in stereochemistry. His work on the 

 atomic transformation, the theory of solutions and other great problems 

 is now classic. His literary activity has covered a wide field and he is 

 the author of more than two hundred original scientific articles or 

 books, nearly all on the subject of chemistry: physical chemistry, bio- 

 chemistry and stereochemistry. For many years past his contributions 

 to periodical publications such as the Berichte der deutschen chem- 

 ischen Gesellschaft, Ostwald's Zeitschrift fur physicalische Chemie, 

 Lorenz's Zeitschrift fur anorganische Chemie, etc., have been of the 

 very highest value to science. 



The biographical memoirs he has written of the eminent French 

 chemist Berthelot, whose name is indissolubly associated with the sci- 

 ence of thermochemistry, of the great Pasteur and of the celebrated 

 propounder of the periodic law, the renowned Russian chemist Men- 

 deleef, testify eloquently to Walden's intimate knowledge of the life 

 and work of these great leaders of modern science. 



Together with Carl Adam BischofT, Professor Walden published his 

 monumental work, the " Handbuch der Stereochemie," ably treating 

 of this intricate and fascinating department of science. On the 

 twenty-fifth anniversary of the doctorate of Professor Ostwald, whose 

 most brilliant and successful pupil he is, Walden issued his excellent 

 biographical sketch of that great physical chemist and philosopher, 

 and, we may add, enthusiastic Esperantist. Ostwald has said that he 

 owes fifty per cent, of his reputation to Walden's biography. At this 

 time Ostwald was appointed a director of the Polytechnicum, an honor 

 enjoyed only by himself and three others, namely, Aristes, Arrhenius 

 and Teppler. 



Besides his original work, Walden has translated into the Russian 

 language Fischer's " Organic Preparations," and also the renowned 

 Lowell lectures by J. H. van't HofT, delivered in Boston. 



Russians are the best hosts in the world. Whereas, in the United 

 States the expenses of the congress were born by the American com- 

 mittee and their friends, in Russia, where the railroads are owned by 

 the government, during the late International Geological Congress the 

 freedom of the railroads was offered to the visiting guests. 



St. Petersburg, a magnificent city with its great museums, universi- 

 ties, art galleries and other institutions, will be a splendid meeting 

 place, and the excursions that can be made from it will prove of the 

 greatest interest and value to the visiting guests. 



VOL. LXXXII.— 38. 



