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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



In 1791 Dr. Eush thought he saw in the maple the future source 

 of the world's sugar supply. This benevolent man hoped that the 

 growth of the tree might be generally extended. " I cannot help con- 

 templating a sugar maple tree with a species of affection and even vener- 

 ation," said the great advocate of emancipation, " for I have persuaded 

 myself to behold in it the happy means of rendering the commerce 

 and slavery of our African brethren in the sugar islands as unnecessary 

 as it has always been inhuman and unjust." 



Place of Meeting in the Building of the Society. 



Accounts of many interesting things crowd the early records of 

 the Society. Franklin himself while coming home from France on 

 his last tedious voyage diverted himself in calm weather by writing his 

 famous letter ' on the causes and cure of smoky chimneys,' which he 

 tells us are chimneys that instead of ' carrying up all the smoke dis- 

 charge a part of it into the room, offending the eyes and damaging 

 the furniture.' He also describes a new stove for burning pit coal, 

 while Thomas Jefferson's interest in husbandry is evidenced by his 



