May 19, 1893.J 



SCIENCE. 



271 



highest degree. Besides Senator Sherman the following gentle- 

 men were present : Senator Morrill, Professor Langley, Professor 

 Gilbert, Maj. Powell, Professor D. C. Bell, President Gilman of 

 Baltimore, the Danish minister, Mr. G. G. Hubbard, Mr. PoUok, 

 President Gallaudet, Professor Newcomb, and Col. Britten. Here 

 is what Miss Keller got off on one of the justices of the Supreme 

 Court, who called to pay his respects on the occasion of the re- 

 ception given her by Mrs Graham Bell the other evening: Helen 

 asked the justice: 'Do you know my friend, Judge Holmes?' 

 'No, dear, he lives in Boston.' To which she replied, smilingly: 

 ' Oh, I thought you knew him, because you see you are brothers- 

 in-law.' The justice took in the bon mot and laughed heartily." 



— The institution which was founded and endowed a few 

 years ago in Washington by Professor Alexander Graham Bell 

 for the increase and diffusion of knowledge relating to the deaf, 

 and which has heretofore had its headquarters at 1334 Q Street, 

 is to have a new home. The institution is styled the Volta 

 Bureau, and in the past two or three years has issued a number 

 of valuable books upon the education of the deaf. The work of 

 the bureau has increased to such an extent that it has been found 

 necessary to provide new quarters. To this end, ground was 

 broken, within a few days, on the northeast corner of 35th and 

 Q Streets for the proposed building, which has been planned and 

 upon which work will be commenced at once. The first sod was 

 turned by Miss Helen Keller, the remarkable deaf and blind girl 

 whose history and wonderful development is known to readers 

 of Science through recent publications. The ceremony of break- 

 ing ground was also participated in by Miss Elsie May Bell, Miss 

 Marian Hubbard Bell and Master Douglass McCurdy. 



— Rarely has a more interesting and beautiful memorial been 

 raised to the memory of a man devoted to science than the mon- 

 ument lately unveiled in New York City to the eminent ornitholo- 

 gist, J. J. Audubon. The ceremonies took place on the afternoon 

 and evening of April 26, and consisted of the dedication of the 

 monument in Trinity Cemetery at 3.30, and a public meeting and 

 addresses at 8.30 in the hall of the American Museum of Natural 

 History, the principle address being a noble eulogy on Audubon, 

 by Professor D. G. Elliott, president of the American Ornitholo- 

 gists' Union. The movement has been carried out chiefly through 

 the agency of the New York Academy of Sciences. It was begun 

 six years ago, and originated with Professor Thomas Egleston of 

 the Columbia College School of Mines, who noticed the fact that 

 Audubon's remains had lain for over thirty years in an obscure 

 vault in a remote corner of Trinity Cemetery, almost unmarked, 

 and wholly undistinguished by any proper memorial. He en- 

 listed the interest of a few scientific friends, and the cooperation 

 of the trustees of the cemetery, who offered an excellent site, 

 free of expense. The matter was brought before the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science during its meeting 

 in New York in that summer (1887) by Professor Daniel S. Mar- 

 tin, but no formal action was taken. At the opening of the 

 meetings of the New York Academy of Sciences, in the autumn, 

 Professor Martin again presented the subject, and a committee 

 was appointed, consisting of Professor Egleston, as chairman, and 

 Drs. N. L. Britton and D. S. Martin. To the labors of this com- 

 mittee, and especially of its chairman and secretary. Professors 

 Egleston and Britton, the result now attained is due. Other 

 societies were invited to cooperate, and have done so to some ex- 

 tent, especially the American Ornithologists' Union and the 

 Agassiz Association. The amount sought was $10,000. About 

 five hundred persons have subscribed in varying amounts, the 

 whole exceeding the sum proposed, while the monument has cost 

 somewhat less. A balance of over $1,000 will remain, which is 

 to be held in trust permanently, as an " Audubon Memorial Fund," 

 by the Academy of Sciences, and used for the publication of im- 

 portant scientific memoirs on subjects kindred to those of Audu- 

 bon's studies and pursuits. The monument itself is a noble and 

 striking work. It stands on a beautiful knoll, close to the 153d 

 Street entrance, facing the point where Audubon Avenue is to be 

 opened through to that street from the north, and close to 

 the old estate, Aububon Park, where the great ornithologist 

 passed his later years. It consists of a Runic cross, some fifteen 



feet high from the base, and is richly carved with appropriate 

 designs, this treatment being possible, historically and sestheti- 

 cally, upon the Runic cross. The nearly cubical base bears on 

 its front a medallion head of Audubon ; on the back an inscription 

 of the manner of its erection, through the New York Academy 

 of Sciences; and on the two sides designs of the hunter's and 

 artist's outfit, respectively, with flowers particularly noted or de- 

 scribed by Audubon. The shaft and arms of the cross are ele- 

 gantly carved in scroll-work, interwoven with a series of birds 



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THE AUDUBON MONUMENT. 



and animals of characteristic North American species, on the 

 front and back respectively. The whole is unique and impressive, 

 carefully studied in both its scientific and artistic details, and 

 singularly happy and appropriate in conception. The material 

 (Hudson River blue-stone) lends itself admirably to the work 

 thus wrought, and the whole rests on a substantial granite base. 

 The spot is beautifully laid out and kept by the trustees of the 

 cemetery, and the whole enterprise reflects great credit on those 

 who have planned and executed it, and is an honor to the Acad- 

 emy of Sciences, an ornament to the city, and a fitting tribute to 

 the memory of the great ornithologist. 



