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POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



The Flower Astronomical Observatory. 



even though they may like occasionally 

 to be isolated, and some machinery is 

 necessary to make local arrangements, 

 to secure reduced railway fares and 

 the like. 



Then while a small group of ex- 

 perts is the ideal condition for the 

 presentation and discussion of special 

 research, there are wider aspects of 

 science and interrelations between the 

 sciences for the adequate consideration 

 of which workers in different depart- 

 ments must come together. There are 

 also conditions of scientific progress, 

 such as educational methods, scientific 

 institutions, publication, government 

 activities, etc., that need criticism 

 and control. Neither trades unions 

 nor corporations meet with universal 

 approval at the present time, but it 

 is obvious that some union among 

 men of science is desirable for the 

 support of their common interests, 

 which in this case are fortunately 

 identical with the interests of society. 

 Lastly a federation of societies and a 

 large gathering of scientific men is an 

 important factor in keeping scientific 

 work in touch with the outside world 



and in impressing on it the unity and 

 weight of scientific researcn. 



The complicated conditions appear 

 to have been met by the establishment 

 of ' convocation week ' at the end of 

 the Christmas holidays. Under the 

 general auspices of the American As- 

 sociation arrangements are made at 

 some large center for the meeting of 

 the association and of the special so- 

 cieties that care to join with it. The 

 special societies have complete control 

 of their place and time of meeting, of 

 their programs and membership; but 

 without interfering with their auton- 

 omy the advantages of a great gath- 

 ering of scientific men are assured. 

 Thus at Philadelphia, beginning the 

 day after Christmas, there will meet 

 the American Association and its ten 

 sections; the American Society of 

 Naturalists, and some twenty special 

 societies, including those devoted to 

 astronomy, physics, chemistry, geol- 

 ogy, botany, zoology, paleontology, 

 bacteriology, physiology, anatomy, an- 

 thropology, psychology and philoso- 

 phy- 



The societies are fortunate in their 



