A HISTORY OF SCIENCE 



below were rather bare and inornate, contrasting un- 

 favorably with the elegant meeting-room of the French 

 institute. But this library makes full amends for any- 

 thing that the other rooms may lack. It is one of the 

 most charming "enchanting" is the word that the 

 Princess Christian is said to have used when she visited 

 it recently and perhaps quite the most inspiring 

 room to be found in all London. It is not very large 

 as library rooms go, but high, and with a balcony 

 supported by Corinthian columns. The alcoves be- 

 low are conventional enough, and the high tables down 

 the centre, strewn with scientific periodicals in engag- 

 ing disorder, are equally conventional. But the color- 

 scheme of the decorations sage-green and tawny 

 is harmonious and pleasing, and the effect of the whole 

 is most reposeful and altogether delightful. 



Chief distinction is given the room, however, by a 

 row of busts on either side and by certain pieces of 

 apparatus on the centre tables. 



The busts, as will readily be surmised, are portraits 

 of distinguished fellows of the Royal Society. There 

 is, however, one exception to this, for one bust is that 

 of a woman Mary Somerville, translator of the Me- 

 canique Celeste, and perhaps the most popular of the 

 scientific writers of her time. It is almost superflu- 

 ous to state that the row of busts begins with that of 

 Newton. The place of honor opposite is held by that 

 of Faraday. Encircling the room to join these two 

 one sees, among others, the familiar visages of Dr. Gil- 

 bert; of Sir Joseph Banks, the famous surgeon of the 

 early nineteenth century, who had the honor of being 

 the only man that ever held the presidential chair of 



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