FIGHTING THE INSECTS 



possibly on account of the element of theatrical people, its "High 

 Jinks" have become famous in America. 



The Cosmos Club, however, seems to be a bit more restricted 

 and at the same time somewhat broader than the other three 

 American clubs. It primarily consists of men who have done 

 meritorious work in literature, the arts and in science, but it 

 also includes men who are distinguished in any one o£ the 

 learned professions or in the government service. Moreover, it 

 admits certain men who, although not professionally engaged 

 in literature, the arts or in science, are known to be highly 

 cultivated amateurs. 



The Cosmos now occupies the old Dolly Madison house in 

 Washington, and several adjoining houses have been added to 

 it. It began in a small way about 1879, and has grown in size, 

 in reputation, and in facilities. At this time it has perhaps 

 eighteen hundred members, about half of them non-resident. 



When I married in 1886, my wife, with extraordinary fore- 

 sight, told me that I must join this Club, and I did so at her 

 command. I have never regretted it. The charges were very 

 reasonable in those days. The entrance fee was only $50, and 

 the annual dues were $35, so that it was quite possible for poor 

 scientific men to join if they could secure election. The late 

 Mark W. Harrington, at one time Chief of the United States 

 Weather Bureau, told me once that one of his assistants had 

 said to him, "I have been urged to join the Cosmos Club, but 

 I can't afford it." 



Professor Harrington said to him, "My dear man, you can- 

 not afford not to." 



And he was quite right. The Club has done wonders for 

 many a young man who, having achieved some scientific prom- 

 inence, must work for an extremely modest government salary. 



During the forty-five or forty-six years since I joined this 



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