Febraary,'22] HOWARD: organization meeting 29 



belonging to Section A (Mathematics and Astronomy). But why- 

 would a mathematician be found attending this organization meeting ? 

 In great doubt, and without any especial hope of success, I consulted 

 the last edition of Professor Cattell's invaluable "Men of Science,", 

 and there I found "Edward Payson Thompson, Mathematician, River- 

 side, Calif." The very brief notice indicates that he was Professor of 

 Mathematics at Geneva, Pa. 1880 to 1890, and of Mathematics and 

 Chemistry, Westminster, Pa. '91 to '93. Incidentally, he was a member 

 of the International Congress of Mathematics at Paris in 1900. No- 

 where in the sketch was it indicated that he lived at Beaver Falls, Pa. 

 in 1888; so he might or might not be the same man — probably not. 

 Then I looked up the old United States Postal Guides, and found 

 that Geneva, Pa., where he was teaching at that time, is in Beaver 

 County and that mail for Geneva was to be addressed to Beaver Falls. 

 This rendered the identification very probable, and I wrote to Professor 

 Thompson at Riverside, and in due time received the following reply : 



142 Linden Street, Riverside, Calif. 

 Nov. 29, '21 

 Professor L. O. Howard, Bureau of Entomology: 



Dear Sir: 



Your interesting note regarding the organization meeting of the Association of 

 Economic Entomologists is at hand. The record is correct, and in one sense I just 

 happened to join the group; and in another, I was interested in the subject, and 

 expected to follow it up, and have always been interested in it, but have not had the 

 opportunity to be directly connected with it. I remember with interest yourself, 

 and Professor Hargitt, and I think Professor Smith of Rutgers, and on one of the 

 excursions I remember a lady, perhaps Mrs. Professor Woodward, who may not have 

 been at the organization meeting. I was then young and felt a little out of place, 

 but m}' interest and expectations were real, and it is a pleasure now to look back at 

 that and some other early experiences. My principal study was Mathematics. I am 

 now 63. I taught Mathematics for 24 years, and then came out to California, where 

 my chief interest is in the orange grove, where of course the subject of Economic 

 Entomology is of considerable practical importance. 



I feel proud of the success of our Society, and not ashamed of having been in at the 

 founding of it. 



Incidentally, I used to be in the church at Rocklsland, 111. of which Secretary 

 Wallace's father was pastor, and I have a recollection of passing the house on the way 

 to school where Professor Riley the entomologist lived. 



I remember you very well, and have seen you since at some public Association 

 meetings. 



With best regards yours, 

 Edward Payson Thompson 



Dr. Howard interpolated statements as follows: 



(1) Here is a little incident that has never been recorded. There was 

 a Coast and Geodetic Survey man who stayed with me one night when 

 Fletcher was there. Well, Fletcher and I got home just at dark. We 

 went into the kitchen to get a glass of water and found a Scutigera 

 running around catching flies. Fletcher had never seen a Scutigera, so 

 he took it and put it in a glass on the sideboard. Then we went into 

 the other room and sat there. We didn't turn up the light because it 

 was too hot. 



