346 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIV. No. 349. 



It is believed that the visit of the scientists has 

 been one of pleasure, as v^ell as profit, and that if the 

 people of Denver have taken a thorough satisfaction 

 in their presence, they, on the other hand, have found 

 equal satisfaction in their sojourn here. The public 

 is too apt to think that because men devote their lives 

 to the pursuit of scientific inquiries they are apt to 

 be dry, self-absorbed and technical.. To such as these 

 actual contact with the members showed them to be 

 surprisingly genial, kindly and sympathetic, while in 

 many of them was found a fine flow of humor flavored 

 with a wit which was none the less attractive because 

 it carried with it no sting. In the nature of things it 

 will be some years before Denver may again hope to 

 entertain them as a body, but every one concerned 

 will feel for them a regard amounting to affection, 

 and when their next session is held here they will get 

 a reception such as no other city could accord them. 



The Denver meeting was also notable for 

 several important changes in policy, either 

 adopted or presented for future action. 

 Perhaps the most radical measure under 

 discussion was that which contemplates a 

 change in the time of the annual meetings. 

 The summer meeting has become so fixed a 

 part of the annual program of many mem- 

 bers that a change to midwinter will call 

 for considerable readjustment. The move- 

 ment for a general convocation week follow- 

 ing the holiday week has commended itself 

 so generally to universities, however, that 

 the Association has concluded that the ex- 

 periment deserves a trial. Accordingly, the 

 general committee of the Denver meeting 

 has suggested to its successor at Pittsburg 

 that the annual meeting of 1903 be held in 

 Washington during the week in which 

 January 1 falls. This action simply sug- 

 gests the experiment of a winter meeting, 

 without any recommendation as to the dis- 

 continuance of summer meetings. It may 



be that the Association will conclude to 

 hold two meetings a year, which could well 

 be of somewhat different character. 



An important amendment, which was 

 adopted, provides for representation in the 

 council from the afiiliated societies. By 

 this action, each afiiliated society is entitled 

 to elect one member, who is a fellow of the 

 Association, as its representative in the 

 council ; and if the society contains more 

 than twenty-five m,embers who are fellows 

 of the Association, it is entitled to two rep- 

 resentatives in the council. It seems cer- 

 tain that this representation in the ruling 

 body of the Association will lead to a more 

 compact and efficient organization of the 

 scientific interests of the country. 



Another amendment was adopted, which 

 provides that the council shall have power 

 to change either the time or place of meet- 

 ing. Heretofore, after the adjournment of 

 the general committee, there has been no 

 authority to make such changes upon any 

 contingency. It is understood that this 

 power will be exercised only in such ex- 

 treme cases that the action will commend 

 itself to all members. For example, the 

 time set for the Denver meeting narrowly 

 escaped a conflict with a national meeting 

 of such magnitude that the Association 

 could not have been accommodated. 



Three amendments were presented to be 

 acted upon at the Pittsburg meeting, which 

 look to much greater efficiency in the con- 

 duct of the affairs of the Association. One 

 provides for the election by the council 

 each year of three councillors at large, 

 who shall serve for a term of three years. 

 This will add to the council nine members 



