EDITORIAL 753 
the same energy in advancing the interests of the visiting geo- 
logists that characterizes their development of the natural 
resources of the country making it possible to inspect mines 
and study artificial exposures of great interest. The magnitude 
of their hospitality also will long be remembered. It was 
prompted by a generosity that seemed common to all classes of 
people throughout the empire, as was shown upon one occasion 
by the presentation of bread and salt by the miners of Colou- 
bovka in token of the humble hospitality they would be glad to 
show us in their houses if we could have visited them. The 
same hearty welcome was met with in the cities and on the 
farms of Finland, among the miners in the Urals, and in the 
town, or camp, or monastery in Transcaucasia — everywhere the 
same generous spirit and the same expressions of good will. 
* 
Tue brilliant success of the seventh session reflects great 
credit on Russian geologists. To them are due both the con- 
ception and execution of the programme. The labor required 
for the preparation of maps and guides and for the arrangement 
for the meeting and the excursions can hardly be realized by 
anyone who has not been engaged in similar undertakings. The 
general secretary, Professor Tschernyschew, devoted two years 
to the preliminary work, and others, no doubt, had a very con- 
siderable share init. The management of the excursions was 
admirable, when it is remembered what difficulties of transporta- 
tion and limitations of accommodation had to be overcome and 
when the number of participants is taken into account. The 
gratitude of all the excursionists is due to the leaders of the 
several expeditions for the manner in which everything within 
their control was conducted. Their labors and good intentions 
were fully appreciated, except by those unfortunates whose first 
impulse on all such occasions is to criticise and complain, and 
whose subsequent effort is to find excuse for having done so. 
When it is remembered that in addition to their responsibility 
for the details of the excursion, the leaders have also to expound 
the geology and undergo a cross fire of questions and scientific 
