826 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXIV. No. 625. 



on their minds day and night; unfortunately 

 perhaps, I am not so constituted. 



The matter of materials for the completion of 

 my work presents a still more serious difficulty, 

 because palaeontology differs substantially from 

 many other branches of zoology. We have here the 

 finest palseontological collection in existence, as 

 the result of sixteen years of exploration and pur- 

 chase, a staff of over twenty highly trained as- 

 sistants, preparators, field workers and artists, 

 all harmoniously working toward a common end. 

 The opportunity could not be recreated in Wash- 

 ington because it is in a branch of pure science 

 which least of all bears upon human welfare and 

 happiness and is, moreover, extremely expensive. 

 As secretary of the Smithsonian I could not con- 

 scientiously recommend the annual appropriation 

 of $25,000 to $30,000, to this branch, and I know 

 I should not have the support of Congress for 

 other more vital subjects if I did. In other 

 words, a change of residence would cut me off from 

 my materials of research. 



In brief, I have finally and for many reasons 

 very regretfully reached the conclusion that the 

 secretaryship would mean a change of career, just 

 at the moment when I feel that without selfishness 

 I am on the point of bringing out the results of 

 many years' labor. I trust that these results are 

 really important, that they will tend to advance 

 American science, and that they will inspire 

 younger men to broad and thorough standards 

 and to strive for absolute truth rather than for 

 brilliant and short-lived generalizations. 



I hope I have been able in this long letter to 

 win you over to the point of view which I have 

 reached after most conscientious reconsideration 

 of this matter, and that I shall retain the confi- 

 dence and esteem which prompted you to vote for 

 me, which I value far more highly than I can 

 possibly express. May I beg also that you will 

 make it generally understood that I am clearly 

 unable to reach any other decision. 



PRELIMINARY PROGRAM OF THE NEW 

 YORK MEETING OF THE AMERICAN 

 ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCE- 

 MENT OF SCIENCE AND THE 

 AFFILIATED SCIENTIFIC 

 SOCIETIES."^ 

 Wednesday, December 26. 

 Registration. — Hotel Belmont, opposite the 

 Grand Central Station, W. 42d Street. 



^ This program contains only certain of the 

 main features of the meeting. Members should 



Executive committee of the council of the 

 American Association. Hotel Belmont, noon. 



Smokers. Hotel Belmont and Murray Hill 

 Hotel, 8:30 p.m. 



Thursday, December 27. 



Registration. Earl Hall, Columbia University 

 (Broadway, Amsterdam Avenue and 116th St.). 

 To be reached by subway express trains on 

 Broadway from the hotel headquarters and rail- 

 way terminals. 



Council of the American Association. Trus- 

 tees Room, Library, Columbia University, 9 A.M. 



General session. Introduction of the president 

 of the meeting. Dr. William H. Welch, Johns 

 Hopkins University, by the retiring president. 

 Dr. C. M. Woodward, Washington University. 

 Welcome by President Butler, Columbia Uni- 

 versity. Announcements. Earl Hall, 10 a.m. 



Organization of Sections. — Addresses of Vice- 

 president F. W. McNair in mechanical science and 

 engineering; Vice-president George Grant Mac- 

 Curdy on ' Some Phases of Prehistoric Arche- 

 ology.' Programs of Sections. — The sections will 

 meet as follows: Mathematics and Astronomy, 506 

 Fayerweather Hall; Physics, 301 Fayerweather ; 

 Chemistry, 309 Havemyer; Mechanical Science 

 and Engineering, 302 Engineering; Geology and 

 Geography, 305 Schermerhorn ; Zoology, 618 

 Schermerhorn ; Botany, 502 Schermerhorn; An- 

 thropology, 306 Mines; Social and Economic Sci- 

 ence, 301 Engineering; Physiology and Experi- 

 mental Medicine, College of Physicians and Sur- 

 geons, West 59th Street. These meetings will be 

 held at 11 o'clock, following the adjournment of 

 the general session. 



Luncheon. University Commons, Columbia 

 University — table d'hote, 30 cents, a la carte, 5 

 cents and upwards, 12 to 2 p.m. 



Address of Vice-president W. S. Eichelberger, 

 of the U. S. Naval Observatory, before the Sec- 

 tion of Mathematics and Astronomy. Vice-presi- 

 dent C. F. Mabery, Case School of Applied Sci- 

 ence, on ' The Education of the Professional 

 Chemist.' Vice-president William North Rice, 

 Wesleyan University, on ' The Contributions of 

 America to Geology.' Vice-president Henry B. 

 Ward, University of Nebraska, on ' The Influ- 

 ence of Parasitism on the Host.' Vice-president 

 Wm. T. Sedgwick on ' The Expansion of Physiol- 

 ogy.' These addresses will be given at 2:30 P.M. 



secure the program of the American Associa- 

 tion, which will be distributed at Earl Hall on 

 December 27, and the programs of the special 

 societies in which they are interested. 



