i 7 4 LIFE AND EXPERIENCES CHAP. 



Mr. Watson Smith has been beyond praise. Besides 

 original communications it contains an abstract of 

 patents ; in short, a re'sume' of what is doing all the 

 world over. There is no doubt that this society has 

 greatly stimulated the study of chemical science among 

 manufacturers, and the meetings have always been 

 successful and interesting. Two citizens of the United 

 States, eminent chemists, have already been elected 

 Presidents of the society, which is thus shown to be an 

 international one. The general meeting for 1904 

 was held in New York under the presidency of Sir 

 William Ramsay, while that of 1905, in London, 

 was presided over by Dr. W. H. Nichols, of New 

 York, whose address on the planning and organi- 

 sation of a chemical works forms very interesting 

 reading. 



As its first President I look back with pride on its 

 achievements, and especially rejoice in the fact that 

 it is an American as well as a British institution, and 

 helps to strengthen the intimacy and good feeling 

 which happily exists between the two nations. 



One feature of the annual meeting is the dinner. 

 My lamented friend Walter Weldon was one of the 

 most active members of this society as well as our 

 poet. The following is one of the verses of his song, 

 sung to the tune of The Leather Bottel : 



As I survey this room around, 



And note the faces which here are found, 



And see so many men, like me, 



Who live by chemical industry, 



Who often in trade compete and fight, 



But have dined together like lambs to-night ; 



I pray that all blessings his may be 



Who founded our Society. 



Concerning the foundation of the society I received 

 the following letter from Professor Hofmann : 



