SILAS WHITCOMB HOLMAN. 553 



in two volumes, " Realistic Idealism in Philosophy Itself," and another 

 work entitled ''Philosophy of the Universe." In 1889 he delivered the 

 address at the loOth anniversary of the settlement of Peterborough. 



The life of Judge Holmes in Cambridge for the last eighteen years 

 was a very retired one, but it was neither solitary nor unhapi^y. He was 

 a bachelor, but always had some relatives in his household, and never 

 failed to find adequate companionship in his books. A great reader on a 

 great variety of subjects, with a tenacious memory, lie was full of 

 knowledge of all sorts, and was a very interesting talker. Judge 

 Holmes was a man of great candor and of remarkable equanimity. He 

 had had successes and disappointments, but he was neither unduly elated 

 by the one nor depressed by the other. 



Judge Holmes was elected Fellow of the Academy May 24, 1870. 

 Having removed from the State, he was elected Associate Fellow May 

 30, 1876. Having returned to Cambridge, his name was restored to the 

 list of Resident Fellows November 30, 1889. 



Jeremiah Smith. 



SILAS WHITCOMB HOLMAN. 



Silas Whitcomb Holman was born at Harvard, Massachusetts, 

 January 20, 1856, and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of 

 Technology in 1876, having made a specialty of the study of physics 

 throughout his course. He was thereupon appointed to a position as 

 assistant in the physical laboratory of that institution, but on account of 

 illness did not enter upon his duties until a year later. Continuing in 

 the service of the Institute, he was promoted to more advanced positions, 

 and was made Professor of Physics in 1893. Even at this date his health, 

 never firm, had become much impaired, and a few years later it became 

 necessary for him to relinquish active work. In 1897 he was made 

 Emeritus Professor of Physics. He died April 1, 1900. 



Professor Holman was elected to membership in this Academy March 

 14, 1883. His original contributions to science were of high merit, and 

 give evidence both of great skill in manipulation and of remarkably clear 

 insight into the choice of methods for conducting a difficult investigation. 



The most important of his researches are those upon the viscosity of 

 air and carbonic acid as affected by temperature, which were published 

 in the Proceedings of this Academy in 1870 and 1885 ; the first of which 

 was based upon his graduating thesis at the Institute of Technology. 

 These contain by far the most complete study of this difficult subject which 



