4 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



Through the National Museum, the Bureau of Ethnology, the 

 National Zoological Park, and the Astrophysical Observatory, re- 

 searches are promoted in all the branches of natural history, zoology, 

 anthropology, and astro-physics, both by the opportunities afforded 

 in Washington and by aid given students elsewhere. 



In furtherance of its second function in the "diffusion" of knowl- 

 edge the Institution issues and freely distributes three classes of 

 publications: Original memoirs, useful scientific publications, and 

 popular expositions of scientific work and thought, in untechnical lan- 

 guage, prepared l)y eminent scholars and thinkers. 



Nor is the instruction of the people forgotten, since, through the 

 museum and park, great object lessons are placed before the hundreds 

 of thousands of visitors to the national capitfd from all parts of the 

 United States. The pupils in the public schools of Washington benefit 

 greatlv l>y these opportunities. It has become a part of their routine 

 to visit, under the care of a teacher, the Smithsonian Institution and 

 National Museum buildings, as well as the park; while those outside 

 the city benefit indirectly through the numerous excursions of teachers 

 and the stimulus and suggestion they may thus receive. 



Perhaps unique as an agency in promotion of scientific and literary 

 relationships abroad is the exchange service, which facilitates inter- 

 course between governmental and learned societies and institutions 

 and scientific men, and which, as is stated later, now has 31,000 corre- 

 spondents, of whom more than 20,000 are in Europe and Asia. 



Standing near the threshold of the second half ccntmy of the Insti- 

 tution's life, it is plain to see how scientific conditions have changed, 

 and easier to estimate the relative position which the Institution 

 holds toward American and foreign scientific endeavor. The most 

 noteworthy fact is the much greater esteem in which American science 

 is held abroad, the better knowledge had of its representatives, and 

 the more friendly and even intimate relations between American 

 workers and their foreign colleagues. To this end it may unquestion- 

 abl}^ be said that the Institution has contributed a very large share, 

 and that its influence abroad has so notably increased within the past 

 ten years, as to constitute a very gratifying fact. 



Its relations with Government and with the leading academies are 

 close and friendly, and in accordance with its motto ''per orbem" its 

 encouragement of research is as f reelv extended to students in England 

 and on the Continent of Europe, or anywhere else, as to those within 

 the United States. The great part which scientific thought and activity 

 are plaj^ing in the world to-day has partially contributed to this con- 

 dition, and the recognition of the Institution by our own Department 

 of State as the adviser in matters relating to international science has 

 greatly contributed to this end. 



