JUNE 28, 1901. ] 
the policy above outlined will result in a 
body of trained students, ready for expert 
work, many of whom will undoubtedly 
enter the government service, while others 
will become instructors in institutions of 
learning or be engaged as experts in private 
capacity. This will avoid competition with 
other institutions, will give most valuable 
training and practical experience to stu- 
dents, and will be especially helpful to in- 
structors in educational institutions, who 
might wisely be sent for six months ora 
year to Washington, as at present some are 
sent abroad. There should be no thought 
of providing a general or liberal course of 
education. Coming as student assistants, 
‘there should be opportunities and encour- 
agement only on clearly defined lines of 
study and investigation. There are many 
large and small problems to be worked out 
by the officers of the Washington Memorial 
Institution, but with the skilled educator 
and organizer now at its head as director 
their successful solution is only a matter 
of time. It is anticipated that the Wash- 
ington Memorial Institution will, under 
the direction of Dr. Gilman, begin its work 
by November 1, 1901. 
The Government’s part in the work, when 
once under successful headway, will be to 
enlarge the quarters of the various bu- 
reaus concerned. This will be necessary 
eventually even if no student assistants are 
provided for. The Government has done 
its part nobly so far. It is now for the edu- 
cational institutions of the country to come 
forward and assist by setting a high stand- 
ard of scholarship for admission to the 
privilege of becoming a student assistant in 
the Government bureaus. Only students 
of the type of those who win fellowships 
or excel in ability should be certified or 
accepted. 
The Washington Memorial Institution 
should, and I believe will, maintain a 
standard that will meet the approval of our 
SCIENCE. 
: 1015 
colleges and universities. It should occupy 
a most important place in the great educa- 
tional work of the country. With the 
hearty cooperation of our collegiate institu- 
tions and of the officers of the Government, 
there is little question that it will ulti- 
mately become the federated head and 
clearing-house of all the higher educational 
interests of the country. 
The relations of the National Govern- 
ment to higher education and research are 
intimate and complex; but the complexi- 
ties are already partially resolved, the 
present is auspicious, and the future out- 
look is most promising. Long ago the na- 
tion recognized its obligation ‘to promote 
a higher and more extended policy than is 
embraced in the protection of the temporal 
interests and political rights of the indi- 
vidual.’ The action of Congress in the 
present year in opening the Government 
bureaus at Washington for study and re- 
search is a long stride forward, and, if 
earried out in good faith must result in 
another and higher standard for American 
endeavor. - 
CHARLES D. WALcorTT. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA. 
THE twentieth general meeting of the 
Royal Society of Canada was held in Ot- 
tawa, May 21, 22 and 23, 1901. This is 
essentially a national institution. It was 
founded in 1882 by the Marquis of Lorne, 
now His Grace the Duke of Argyll. The 
Society is divided into fowr sections: 
J. French Literature, History and allied subjects. 
II. English Literature, History and allied sub- 
jects. 
III. Mathematical, Physical and Chemical Sciences, 
IV. Geological and Biological Sciences. 
The Society met this year under the presi- 
deney of Dr. Louis Honoré Fréchette, 
C.M.G., who delivered his inaugural ad- 
dress, ‘Race and Language Problem in 
