SOCIAL SCIENCE IN KANSAS AND WESTERN MISSOURI. 429 



ously intermingled, we know it to be a binary granite; if it contains hornblende in 

 addition, it is hornblendic granite. If a rock is composed of quartz and mica, it 

 is mica schist; if a combination of hornblende and quartz, it is hornblende schist, 

 and if it is simply a mass of grains of quartz firmly cemented together, we call it 

 quartzite. 



Many rocks, however, are so fine grained that it is impossible to distinguish 

 the minerals of which they are made up, with the unaided eye. In such cases 

 recourse is had to the microscope, which generally reveals the character of the 

 constituent minerals without further trouble, but quite often we are obliged to go 

 still further and cut off a thin section or slice of the rock. This slice is mounted 

 on a slide and carefully examined with the microscope, notice being taken of the 

 reflected, transmitted and polarized light, change of color and various other pecul- 

 iarities. The object is to ascertain the crystalline form, if any, of the minute 

 particles of the minerals constituting the rock, the color, luster, and any other 

 character possible. The science which treats of the determination of rocks by 

 this method is termed microscopic lithology. Most specimens, however, can be 

 identified without the aid of the microscope, so that a knowledge of this branch 

 of the science of rocks is not indispensable to the amateur geologist. 



W. H. L. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



SOCIAL SCIENCE CONVENTION OF KANSAS AND WESTERN 

 MISSOURI— SIXTH ANNUAL SESSION. 



The Social Science Club of Kansas and Western Missouri commenced its 

 sixth annual meeting at Atchison, Kansas, on the 6th of November, the Pres- 

 ident, Mrs. C. tl. Cushing, presiding. Reports were made by the various officers, 

 new members elected and other routine business attended to, after which the 

 welcoming address was made by Mrs. J. J. Ingalls and responded to by Mrs. 

 Geo. A. Eddy. 



Able papers were read in the various departments, viz. in the department of 

 Sanitary Science by Mrs. Eliza K. Morgan, of Leavenworth, upon the " Human 

 Foot; " and by Miss Deborah Longshore, upon " Muscle;" in the department of 

 Natural Science by Mrs. L. M. Ward, of Ottawa, Kansas, entitled "A plea for 

 the study of the Natural Sciences;" in the department of Philanthropy and 

 Reform by Mrs. Anna F. Burbank, upon "Individual Reform," and by Mrs. 

 Mary Palmer Reese, of Kansas City, entitled "Woman — Her position what she 

 makes it ; " in the department of Education by Mrs. William Tweedale, of 

 Topeka, upon "Education considered from a Practical Stand-point ; " in the 



VIII— 28 



