REMINISCENCES OF THE ACADEMY BY MR. PRATT. 197 



larger case now in the back room— made by one of the first members 

 who joined after the organization, and a considerable number and variety 

 of specimens, contributed by Messrs. Barler, Tiffany, Eads, Sheldon, 

 Riepe and myself. I find in my diary on January 18th, 1868 : '' Carried 

 specimens from home and put them up at the Academy all day." Mrs. 

 Alfred Sanders also contributed a large collection of minerals, fossils 

 and recent shells, which alone occupied the second cabinet case we 

 procured, and others soon began to hand in such specimens as they hap- 

 pened to have. 



We were proud on the occasion of the receipt of the first donation 

 from abroad, which was that of a collection of Crinoids, now in our col- 

 lection, from Mr. Enoch May, of Burlington, January 18th, 1868. These 

 "were sent in response to our notice of his election as an honorary mem- 

 ber. We were rather free, if not hasty, in our distribution of such 

 "honors" at first, while as yet we were receiving, rather than conferring, 

 honor by such connections. Our notifications were, however, usually 

 very well received and kindly responded to. 



The first lot of specimens received in response to our propositions for 

 exchange, was a collection of marine shells, sponges, etc., from the Port- 

 land (Me.) Natural History Society. We still have the specimens, but 

 we have outlived the institution. 



Our first appearance before the public was upon the occasion of a lec- 

 ture delivered before the Academy by Prof. Iliiu-ichs, of Iowa State 

 University, at the German Theatre on the loth of February, 1868, on the 

 subject of " Pantogen, or the Element of Elements." It was well 

 attended and well received, and we " thanked God and took courage." 



The first paper read in Academy meeting was on May 1, 1868, by W. 

 H. Pratt, on "The Relations of the Outer World to our Senses." 



Our meetings were held at Mr. Eads' office until a liberal offer was 

 received from the Young Men's Library Association to give the use of a 

 portion of its room, north-east corner of Second and Brady streets, third 

 story, for our cabinets and for meetings, free of rent. The offer was 

 accepted, and I find in my diary, March 21. 1868: "Began to remove 

 specimens from Mr. Eads' office to the Library rooms," and the meeting 

 on April 3d, 1868, was the first held there. The old case, being of an odd 

 size and form, was left. 



Our first enterprise out of the routine contemplated in the original 

 plan was the purchase from Mr. Thomas Lighton, of Rock Island, of a 

 telescope, made by him, for the sum of SiOO, which we raised by sub- 

 scription. The instrument is still with us, in good order, and has been 

 the source of much pleasure and some benefit. 



During the summer of 1869 preparations were made for securing pho- 

 tographs during the progress of the total eclipse of the sun, which was 

 to occur on the Tth of August. This project was carried into effect with 

 quite as good results as could reasonably have been expected with such 

 limited skill and appliances as were at our command. Twenty pretty 

 fair photographs were made. We were much disappointed in the failure 

 to obtain a negative during the time of totality, not being aware at that 



[Proc. D. A. N. S. Vol. II.] 27 [May, 1878.] 



