VASSAR BROTHERS INSTITUTE. 45 
May 4. W. Le Conte Stevens of Brooklyn, N. Y., delivered an illus- 
trated lecture on ‘‘ Sensitive Flames and Sound Shadows.” 
April. 1. Prof. Charles A. Young of Princeton, New Jersey, lectured 
on ‘‘ Nebule and the Nebular Hypothesis.’’ This also 
being illustrated. 
At none of these meetings was the attendance large 
and at some it was very meagre. It is the first time that 
the Institute has tried this method, of engaging a num- 
ber of paid lecturers from other places, and certainly the 
interest manifested by the citizens of Poughkeepsie, was 
quite unworthy of the character of the lectures thus pro- 
vided and it was a disappointment to those who had ar- 
ranged the course. Business meetings followed each 
of these public meetings, except one. Six members 
were elected during the year. 
Only one section has been active during the year. 
The Scientific Section held eight public meetings at 
which papers and addresses were presented by members, 
as follows : 
1889. 
November 19. Chairman Edward Elsworth. 
‘Some Suggestions concerning Food Adulterations.”’ 
December 10. Gilbert Van Ingen. 
‘¢The Ferns of Poughkeepsie.”’ 
1890. 
January 14. Dr. W. G. Stevenson. 
“* The Imagination.”’ 
January 28. Charles B. Warring, Ph. D. 
‘‘ What keeps the Bi-cycle from Overturning.”’ 
February 18. Le Roy C. Cooley, Ph. D. 
“¢ Hlectricity—What is it ?”’ 
March 11. Gilbert Van Ingen reported two Land Snails found in Pough- 
keepsie, that were Foreign to America, 
March 25. Gilbert Van Ingen. 
‘* Land Snails of Poughkeepsie.”’ 
_ April 8. Charles B. Warring. 
** Sir Wm. Thompson and his Gyrostatic balance.” 
Your president is not aware of any meeting of either 
the Library or the Art Sections being held during the 
year. . 
