JANUAEY 1, 1915] 



SCIENCE 



15 



basis for discussion. The large public hall 

 into which the main entrance leads is for 

 the proposed exhibit of current research, 

 illustrating the latest advances in pure and 

 applied science, both American and for- 

 eign. The public would undoubtedly ap- 

 preciate an opportunity to see under 

 microscopes the most recently discovered 

 bacilli, and. to examine specimens illustrat- 

 ing the experimental variation of plants or 

 animals, photographs showing new as- 

 tronomical discoveries, experimental dem- 

 onstrations of physical phenomena like the 

 recently found Stark effect (the influence of 

 an electric field on radiation), the structure 

 of crystals, X-ray spectra and their bearing 

 on the constitution of the atom, etc. As 

 the home of such an exhibit, and the place 

 of publication of the Proceedings, announc- 

 ing the current advances of American re- 

 search, the Academy would soon be recog- 

 nized in its true character as the natural 

 center and promoter of the scientific work 

 of the United States. 



In the adjoining room to the right the 

 exhibit of historical research would con- 

 nect the present with the past, and give a 

 clear picture of American progress in the 

 field of science. The possibilities of this 

 exhibit have already been mentioned, 

 but it may be remarked here that one 

 of its prime purposes should be to stimulate 

 further investigation and to aid in the 

 Academy's work of correlating science by 

 indicating converging lines of research. 

 Both of these objects are of course perfectly 

 compatible with the initial idea of com- 

 memorating the labors of Academy 

 members. 



The lecture hall at the rear of the build- 

 ing completes the group of rooms open to 

 the public. This should embody some of 

 the features which make the lecture hall of 

 the Royal Institution so attractive. The 

 provision of ample facilities for experi- 



mental demonstrations (including a well- 

 equipped preparation room) which no 

 large lecture hall in Washington contains 

 at present, would add greatly to the means 

 of interesting both men of science and the 

 public. 



To the left of the central hall is the 

 Academy meeting room, which might ad- 

 vantageously combine various features 

 found in European academies. One of the 

 most attractive meeting rooms abroad is that 

 of the Paris Academy of Sciences. The 

 provision of a comfortable ante-room,^" 

 equipped like a club and providing abun- 

 dant opportunity for conversation among 

 members, would be a valuable addition. 

 Instead of admitting visitors to the meet- 

 ing-room they could be better accommo- 

 dated in a second floor gallery, above the 

 ante-room, similar to the visitors' gallery 

 of the Amsterdam Academy. Finally, a 

 modified seating arrangement (probably 

 retaining the tables for ofScers and mem- 

 bers) would permit the inclusion of a 

 screen and experiment table at one end of 

 the room. 



iThe main floor would also contain a 

 council room,^^ and various offices, cloak 

 rooms, serving rooms, apparatus rooms, 

 etc., needed for use in connection with 

 meetings, lectures, exhibits, public recep- 

 tions and other functions. The offices of 

 the secretaries, editorial rooms, library and 

 reading rooms, private research rooms and 

 other rooms not for public purposes would 

 be on the floors above. The example of the 

 Berlin Academy, '^^ which provides numer- 

 ous offices (45 in all) in its new building 

 for the compilation of data required for 

 a general catalogue of stars, bodies of 



20 In the space here marked ' ' Council Eoom. ' ' 



21 In the space here marked ' ' Photograph 

 Eoom. ' ' 



22 See ' ' The Work of European Academies, ' ' 

 Science, November 14, 1913, p. 692. 



