378 
Attic violet is likely to be stifled by the 
mephitice odors of the laboratory. 
The sessions of the American Association 
at Detroit were held during the week be- 
ginning August 9th, under the favorable 
auspices presented by a beautiful city and 
by the admirable facilities of the Detroit 
Central High School. 
modations of this building, the generous 
The ample accom- 
hospitality of the citizens of Detroit, and 
the assiduous labors of the local committee, 
afforded an ideal environment, and one to 
which the Association will doubtless be 
pleased to return in due time. 
Owing to the death of Professsr H. D. 
Cope, the duties of the retiring President 
fell upon Dr. Theodore Gill; while the 
absence, by reason of illness, of the Presi- 
dent-elect, Professor Wolcott Gibbs, threw 
the labors of the presidency of the Detroit 
meeting on the next senior Vice-President, 
Dr. W J McGee. It was commonly and 
justly remarked that the fidelity and ability 
with which Dr. Gill and Dr. McGee exe- 
cuted the arduous trusts thus unexpect- 
edly brought upon them contributed in a 
most marked degree to the success of the 
meeting. 
The opening session of the Association 
was held in the spacious auditorium of the 
high school and proceeded with the usual 
invocation and addresses of welcome from 
representatives of the city. Perhaps there 
is still need of this formula in introducing 
to a community a national scientific or- 
ganization whose work and aims are but 
little known. But its use sometimes leads 
to inconsistencies and absurdities which 
are very depressing to men of science. The 
SCIENCE. 
[N. 8. Vou. VI. No. 141. 
invocations are not infrequently tanta- 
mount to an apology for the existence and 
to a plea fot the toleration (within due 
limits). of science which are at once need- 
less and undignified ; while the labored 
efforts of unscientific men to welcome sci- 
ence as the ‘handmaid of religion’ are often 
painful episodes in an otherwise pleasant 
greeting. 
In spite of the small attendance the meet- 
ing must be regarded as one of the most | 
successful in the history of the Association. 
This happy outcome may be ascribed toa 
number of causes. Among these may be 
mentioned the carefully prearranged pro- 
grams of the sectional committees; the 
continuity of the meetings, which now run 
from Monday to Friday without interrup- 
tion by excursions, ete.; the joint meetings 
of Sections C and E with the American 
Chemical Society and with the Geological 
Society of America, respectively; and the 
accessions of fresh enthusiasm from the 
The 
presence and participation of a number of 
younger members of the Association. 
foreign guests added greatly also to the 
interest of the sessions. The presence, like- 
wise, of a number of past Presidents of the 
Association was an inspiring feature which 
ought to be more prominent in the future 
than it has been in recent years. 
As usual, the labors of the Council were 
wearisome, consuming about eighteen hours 
per day throughout the week, and leaving 
but little time for science to those charged 
with official duties. 
amendments whose object is to shorten and 
Some constitutional 
simplify the business affairs of the Associa- 
tion were adopted, Other changes looking 
