Kansas Academy <>f science. 



"> Membets Who shall allow their dues to remain unpaid for two years, having been annually noti- 

 li'ii of their arrearage by tin 1 Treasurer, shall have their names stricken from the roll. 



Ci. One-fourth of the income of the Academy shall he set aside for the increase of the library — all 

 purchases to he first authorized by the Executive Committee. 



7. The Librarian shall have charge of the distribution, sale and exchange of the published "Trans-. 

 actions" of the Academy, under such restrict ions as may be i in posed by the Executive Committee. 



8. Eigjfl members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 



A committee appointed at the opening of the session to nominate the officers for the 

 ensuing year, returned the names of the following persons, who were duly elected by the 

 Academy to the respective positions: 



President — R. J. Brown, of Leavenworth. 



1 7. , Presidents — F. H. Snow and Joseph Savage, of Lawrence. 



Treasurer — A. H. Thompson, of Topeka. 



Secretary — E. A. Popenoe, of Manhattan. 



Board of Curators— O. H. St. John and J. T. Lovewell, of Topeka; J. H. Carruth, of 

 Lawrence. 



< >n the evening of the 21st the retiring President, Dr. A. H. Thompson, delivered an 

 address, which, on account of the importance of its information concerning the growth of 

 the Academy, and by a departure from the usual course of the Publication Committee in 

 such cases, we here print: 



ADDRESS OF THE RETIRING PRESIDENT, DR. A. H. THOMPSON, OF TOPEKA. 



Subject: "The Origin asd History of the Academy." 



Mr. President, and Members: In compliance with the requirements of a by-law adopted 

 at our last annual meeting, it becomes my duty at this time to perpetrate what is by 

 courtesy therein designated as "the President's retiring address." This peculiar diver- 

 sion, thus legalized, was instituted and made obligatory upon the occupant of this chair 

 upon his retirement, by way of following the custom prevalent in other societies, and es- 

 pecially in scientific associations, of exacting this tribute from this officer. It is, perhaps, 

 in some sense, a sort of peculiar price to be paid over at the close of his term of office, 

 as a return for the honor and dignity thrust upon a modest member by his election to the 

 highest office within the gift of the Society. In the present instance, the price is paid 

 down as a feeble and inadequate expression of the high appreciation and estimation in 

 which this, the highest honor within the gift of the Academy, is held by the retiring in- 

 cumbent. 



In most scientific associations, the honor of election to the presidency is imposed as a 

 timely and appropriate recognition of scientific attainments and discoveries, and it is often 

 most worthily bestowed, as the practice in the highest associations in this country and in 

 Europe illustrates. But in all confidence, I am obliged to confess, that in the present 

 instance I cannol perceive that this lias been the case, much as I regret the fact; and it 

 becomes, in view of this, a gift of courtesy and not of deserts, and is therefore the more 

 appreciated. 



Former presidents of the Academy have at times given volunteer addresses upon their 

 retirement from office; but the custom does not appear to have been constant nor at any 

 time obligatory. These addresses have been in the nature of popular lectures upon scien- 

 tific subjects, and with but little reference to the Academy, its needs or wants. But pres- 

 idential addresses are now made legal, and will lie exacted from all occupants of this chair 

 hereafter. This is therefore the \\v>i penalty under the new law, and the opening per- 

 formance in the series of addresses which are to follow from successive presidents. This 

 fact suggested to my mind that no more appropriate subject — since I was obligated to have 

 a subject — could be selected for the first of the series than the history of the Academy. 



A glance into the past years of the Society, and a sketch of the steps leading to its or- 

 ganization, its early days, and its subsequent history: nothing of this sort has been at- 



