xliv Trans. Acad. Sci. of St. Louis. 



Science, could have several papers on each evenino;, giving 

 the results obtained in botany, geology, or what not, pre- 

 sented in such a way as to interest not only our own members 

 but others, then we could accomplish something. 



Now I know very well that it is urged that the discussion 

 which follows papers of that sort is valuable, but my obser- 

 vation is to this e:ffect : that the discussion which follows a 

 paper, particularly if very technical, is always about some- 

 thing else, and might just as well be omitted. If that discus- 

 sion could follow a week later, after having considered the 

 paper, and better still, if it could be made in writing in public, 

 after the paper which was being discussed had been published, 

 then the results would be much more valuable. Impromptu 

 discussions are as likely to be valuable if a paper is presented 

 in abstract as when it is read in minute detail. It is very 

 much better for one who wishes to publish anything to get it 

 all ready, study it carefully, think of it closely, and then file 

 it away for three or four years; then study it again, and then 

 probably the paper will be worth publishing. 



Now I have said something about the duty of those who 

 produce these papers. I think there is also another duty 

 which those who are to hear owe to those who produce the 

 papers. When one is reading a paper in detail, and boring 

 everybody, I think our devotion to science ought to be suf- 

 ficiently great to cause us to listen to the end. In some 

 societies I have attended, where papers of that kind were 

 read, it was evident that not a single person present was really 

 following the reader. I have taken pains to ask them about 

 it. The answer was, " Why I couldn't understand it ; wait 

 until it comes out in print." Now, why couldn't such a paper 

 be presented in an attractive way, and then let those who wish 

 read it in print? But suppose a man hasn't that much sense, 

 then I think we ought to take our punishment, and go to the 

 meeting. There is a great inspiration in numbers. There 

 are very few people who like to speak to an audience consist- 

 ing of the President, the Secretary and one or two other 

 persons. One can sometimes say to a crowd what he couldn't 

 say to empty benches. 



