April 13, 1900.] 



SCIENCE. 



595 



individual impi-ovement, he claimed, depended 

 group or i-acial improvement, social ameliora- 

 tion, and the welfare of humanity. 



Anthropology, the New Science of Man, in 

 Dr. Brinton's own words " is the study of the 

 whole of man, his psychical as well as his phys- 

 ical nature, and the products of all his activities, 

 whether in the past or the present. ' ' 



This broad comprehension indicates the sig- 

 nificance of anthropological study. Its limits 

 of attainment ai'e limited only by the nature of 

 man himself, and Dr. Briuton asks " who dares 

 set a limit to that? " 



Although the youngest of the modern sciences 

 anthropology is none the less one of the most 

 important of the sciences, for in its develop- 

 ment is bound closely the progress of society. 

 To carry out the aims of anthropology are re- 

 quired the results obtained from the study of 

 ethnography, ethnology, psychology, folk-lore 

 and archaeology — more "especially pre-historic 

 archseology which concerns itself not only with 

 the ancient but with ' the simplest ' and ' most 

 transparent and therefore the most instruc- 

 tive.' 



Notwithstanding the extension of this work 

 in America, comparatively few professorships 

 of anthropology or its branches exist, and the 

 limited opportunity afforded students to qualify 

 themselves for investigation in these various 

 subjects is manifest. Dr. Brinton pointed out 

 the insufficiency of facilities for students to ac- 

 quire the necessary preliminary training to fit 

 them for research, and he advocated and urged 

 that 'anthropology should be studied generally 

 in our colleges. Provost Harrison referred to 

 this in his address at the Brinton Memorial 

 Meeting held in Philadelphia in January last, 

 and stated that Dr. Brinton had the utmost con- 

 fidence in anthropology as a science and also in 

 its practical worth as an applied science in poli- 

 tics, education and legislation. 



It is pi'oposed in recognition of the great ser- 

 vices he rendered to the world by his teachings, 

 numerous publications, and untiring zeal in un- 

 earthing the false and proclaiming the true, to 

 establish in his memory a Brinton Chair of 

 American Archseology aud Ethnology in the 

 University of Pennsylvania. 



This proposition has received the universal 



commendation and approval of anthropological 

 scholars both in Europe and America. 



At the Memorial Meeting the plan was favor- 

 ably mentioned and grateful recognition ac- 

 corded to Dr. Brinton's unselfish devotion to 

 his chosen life work. Provost Harrison thought 

 that to honor his memory no more worthy trib- 

 ute could be given than the foundation of a 

 Brinton Memorial Chair in the University of 

 Pennsylvania. Professor Putnam, following 

 these remarks, said that he trusted the sugges- 

 tion would not be dropped but that something 

 tangible would come from Provost Harrison's 

 words. 



The choice of this place for the seat of the 

 Brinton Memorial seems especially appropriate 

 since the University of Pennsylvania now pos- 

 sesses Dr. Brinton's valuable library, his own 

 gift shortly before his death. The association 

 of Brinton's name with the University from 

 1886, when the chair of American Anthropology 

 and Linguistics was created for his occupancy, 

 may in this way be made permanent. 



In order to accomplish the proposed plan, it 

 will be necessary to secure an endowment of 

 fifty thousand dollars from individual sources. 

 Patrons of science and others interested in the 

 endowment may apply to the Brinton Memorial 

 Committee, 44 Mount Vernon Street, Boston, 

 Mass, where further information is to be ob- 

 tained if desired. 



Messrs. Drexel &Co., bankers, Philadelphia, 

 have kindlj^ consented to act as Treasurers on 

 certain conditions which will be explained to 

 contributors on application to the Brinton Me- 

 morial Committee. 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS. 



The annual stated meeting of the National 

 Academy of Sciences will be held next week be- 

 ginning on Tuesday, April 17th. 



At the annual meeting of the Astronomical 

 Society of the Pacific, held in San Francisco, on 

 March 31st, the Bruce Gold Medal of the So- 

 ciety was awarded to Dr. David Gill, H.M. 

 astronomer, at the Cape of Good Hope. This 

 is the third award of this medal. 



Dr. Alexander Agassiz has returned to 

 the United States from his expedition to the 



