Pebeuaey 26, 1904.] 



SCIENCE. 



34J 



Just now, before tlie busy scientific men all 

 over the country have allowed the memories 

 of the recent holiday meetings of scientific 

 societies to be covered up with the details of 

 every-day work, is a good time to consider 

 the object of the union of these organizations 

 and how this may be made more effective. 

 For the purpose of reading papers on subjects 

 to which they are devoting their lives and 

 their best enthusiasm, or to discuss the latest 

 information, or to meet and compare notes 

 with men of similar thought and labor, this, 

 I take it, is the impelling motive that brings 

 men together at a scientific association. 



That the attendance on the recent meeting 

 of the American Association for the Advance- 

 ment of Science and affiliated societies at St. 

 Louis was not larger was to be expected, in 

 view of the fact that meetings of those in- 

 terested in nearly all branches of scientific 

 work have already been announced for next 

 summer in the same city. Many can not 

 sacrifice the time nor bear the expense of 

 more than one visit to St. Louis, and will so 

 time their visits to the fair next summer as 

 to include the session of the scientific meet- 

 ings. "With regard to enthusiasm, and strict 

 attention to the business that brought them 

 together, and in the absence of that sensation- 

 alism, which moves every scientific man to 

 shrug his shoulders, the St. Louis meeting was 

 a great success. 



The plan that has been inaugurated, of 

 having all societies interested in a common 

 work meet under the same auspices, at the 

 same place, during ' convocation week,' has 

 been carefully considered. That it is satis- 

 factory is attested by the meetings already 

 held under this arrangement; but it should 

 receive the hearty support of every one and 

 the cooperation of all scientific societies. Any 

 subsection or class of specialists has a per- 

 fect right to hold a meeting elsewhere at the 

 same time, but though a closer fellowship 

 with men of the same cult may perhaps be at- 

 tained, the larger benefit of association with 

 those possessed of culture, and who are men 

 of ideas, in other allied or, indeed, widely dif- 

 ferent subjects, is not attained. It is of as 

 much importance that the horizon be extended 



as that we knit closer the bonds of fellowship 

 in a limited circle. An annual meeting of 

 affiliated societies brings about just the desired 

 result. 



It may be assumed that a large per cent, of 

 those attending the meetings are associated 

 with different educational institutions, and 

 for them a winter meeting will no doubt prove 

 most convenient, when local conditions, such 

 as meetings of state educational and scientific 

 bodies, are adjusted to this condition of af- 

 fairs. It has been found that a general meet- 

 ing held during- the summer, even if as late 

 as the last week in August, breaks in upon a 

 vacation at the seashore, in the mountains, 

 by the lakes, or seriously interrupts some lab- 

 oratory investigation or scientific excursion. 

 On the latter account many biologists espe- 

 cially have frequently been unable to attend 

 the meetings. 



There can certainly bo, no valid objection 

 to having semi-annual meetings of sections or 

 of afiiliated societies held during the summer 

 at appropriate and convenient localities, but 

 this should not be allowed to interfere with, 

 attendance at the larger and more important 

 annual meeting, held in the winter at some 

 central and convenient point. 



It will, I think, be found that the men of 

 the central west can be depended upon to at- 

 tend meetings held during convocation week, 

 if they are not obliged to travel over from 

 500 to 800 miles. Some will double these dis- 

 tances for the sake of the advantages that a 

 meeting of this kind affords. If the men 

 along the Atlantic coast will do as well there 

 will be no lack of attendance. By concerted 

 action and hearty cooperation, then, it is pos- 

 sible to make the annual meeting of scientific 

 societies, even more than it has been for the 

 last fifty years, a center of scientific life and 

 enthusiasm. E. H. S. Bailey. 



University of Kansas. 



As is well known, the American Association 

 for the Advancement of Science used to meet 

 in midsummer and the different professional 

 societies in midwinter. Now the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science 

 has changed its meetings to winter and the 



