SECTION A COMPARATIVE LANGUAGE 



(HaU 4, September 21, 10 a. m.) 



CHAIRMAN: PROFESSOR FRANCIS A. MARCH, Lafayette College. 

 SPEAKERS: PROFESSOR CARL D. BUCK, University of Chicago. 



PROFESSOR HANS OERTEL, Yale University. 

 SECRETARY: PROFESSOR E. W. FAY, University of Texas, Austin, Tex. 



THE Chairman of the Section of Comparative Language was Pro- 

 fessor Francis A. March of Lafayette College, who stated, in opening 

 the Section, that the scientific study of language takes its facts 

 largely from ancient languages, and interprets them as human 

 institutions by means of which society is organized and man de- 

 veloped. Comparative philology rejoices in unfolding the history of 

 nations. It has sought to find its laws in the forces of nature, the 

 bodily organization, and external habits of life, the influences of 

 climate, the law of least effort working throughout like the law of 

 gravitation. Its success has been as wonderful as that of the astro- 

 nomers, and it will be a pleasure to hear of it to-day. 



