FIGHTING THE INSECTS 



another former Minister of Agriculture, and one of the grand 

 old leaders of French farming interests. 



In 1908 the English men of science arranged a great celebra- 

 tion of the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Charles 

 Darwin. In the spring of that year I was appointed a delegate 

 to this celebration from the Washington Academy of Sciences 

 and soon afterwards left for an official journey that took me 

 into Eastern Europe. In Budapest I was asked by my old 

 friend, Geza Horvath, whether I expected to attend the Fete 

 Lamarck in Paris in June. I had not heard of the fete, 

 but was told that the French, on learning of the English plan 

 to celebrate the Centenary of the birth of Darwin, had decided 

 to anticipate it by a great Lamarck celebration. Lamarckian 

 views of evolution were then being actively discussed, following 

 the publication of August Weissman's work, denying the possi- 

 bility of the inheritance of acquired characteristics. 



This was an opportunity not to be lost, and I immediately 

 wrote to Paris, proposing myself as a delegate of Washington 

 organizations, and at the same time wrote to Washington for 

 confirmation. So that summer I attended both of the big inter- 

 national scientific meetings. 



The Paris celebration was impressive as well as charming. At 

 the great opening meeting held in the Jardin des Plantes, in 

 a large temporary structure facing the beautiful Lamarck statue, 

 the President of the Republic, M. Faillieres, was present, with 

 that impressive personality, M. Leon Bourgeois, who at that time, 

 I think, was Minister of Foreign Affairs, also in attendance. 

 The principal address was effectively delivered by Edmond 

 Perrier, at that time Director of the Museum of Natural History 

 and a leader of the French Lamarckian School. 



A number of distinguished Frenchmen received the foreign 



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