276 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [Sept. 



these adjuncts it would be very desirable that some 

 members of the Society should take them in charge and 

 make them as successful as they have been on past occa- 

 sions. There are many members who think that they 

 are among the chief attractions of our meetings, and 

 that if fully developed they would secure a larger atten- 

 dance. It is manifestly impossible for the Secretary to 

 assume charge of these in addition to his other duties. 

 Cannot some method be suggested by which something 

 of the kind can be carried out, if not on so large a scale 

 as formerly, yet so as to attract those to whom demon- 

 strations are particularly interesting ? At Madison the 

 talk by Prof. W. S. Miller really occupied one afternoon, 

 and was a working session for the work of one man. 

 Could not some member at each session, even if no elab- 

 orate preparation was made or public invitations extended, 

 give his individual demonstration as to how he works in 

 his particular line. 



It is evident that the prizes have been a stimulant in 

 the matter of high-class papers, and it would be very 

 desirable if those for the papers should be continued. It 

 was suggested informally that the Spencer ToUes fund 

 should be raised to a thousand dollars by subscriptions 

 of one hundred dollars each from several cities, and the 

 interest used as a premium fund. It ought not to be a 

 very diflHcult undertaking to do this in ordinary times, 

 but the exceptional financial conditions now prevailing 

 are adverse. Nevertheless, the sum required is very 

 small, and we believe that a little effort on the part of 

 our members would effect the result. Some such action 

 as this would do more to render the Society permanent 

 and successful than anything that can now be done. 



It should be remembered that the amount offered in 

 no sense represents anything like payment for the work 

 done, that the honor is more than the money ; but in at 

 least one case the award aided the recipient in securing 



