OCEEDINGS OF THE KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 459 



Bumber without thinking of the diagram with the number in a particular place. 

 The diagrams assume a variety of shapes, sometimes symmetrical and sometimes 

 grotesque. The author of the paper is afflicted with the habit of arranging num- 

 als in the mind upon a diagram of peculiar shape. The scientists, Dr. Thomp- 

 son stated, who had investigated the matter found that it was possessed on the 

 average by about one man in thirteen, and one woman in thirty. The paper was 

 illustrated by diagrams. 



At the conclusion of the reading each paper was discussed at length and 

 much valuable information brought out in this way. 



The Academy adjourned at 5 o'clock to meet at 7:30. 



The evening was very disagreeable, but a fair audience appeared to listen to 

 the lecture of Prof. G. E. Patrick, of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, con- 

 cerning "Chemistry as Related to the Fine Arts." The lecture was well worth 

 hearing. It was written in language that could be understood by the plain way- 

 faring man, and being delivered in a manner totally devoid of oratorical pretense, 

 was therefore all the more interesting. 



The speaker first alluded to the fact that chemistry has its science as well as 

 its art: "why" as well as its " how," and then indicated briefly the manner in 

 which he would consider it, i. e., as a science. He stated that chemistry is a 

 mere youth in years and, perhaps, in attainments, as compared with astronomy 

 and kindred branches of learning, but that it is vigorous and progressive and while 

 not comp'eted has greatly benefitted the world, even in its crudity. Reference 

 was then made to the noble labors of Liebig in connection with agriculture, and 

 the progress of his studies among fertilizing agents was detailed in a graphic man- 

 ner. The professor next next touched upon the history of soda ; how at the end 

 of the last century it was scarcely known, its sources of supply being limited, but 

 finally, in 1789 how they were enlarged by LeBlanc, who discovered a method 

 by which sodium carbonate could be produced from common salt. The iron in- 

 dustry was cited as affording a striking example of the benefits accruing to the 

 world from scientific research. Before Bessemer discovered his process of mak- 

 ing steel twenty days were occupied in doing what can now be done in that num- 

 ber of minutes, and while then but two-pound bars could be treated, now masses 

 of six tons weight are converted into steel and steel bridges, and rails made pos- 

 sible. 



The art of dyeing, although practiced, in one sense, from time immemorial, 

 had been given a high rank because of the efforts of the patient searchers among 

 the " H2 S 04"'s of the universe. Particularly, said the speaker, is this true 

 as regards the production of aniline dyes from coal tar, and the adoption of that 

 beautiful invention by which ultramarine is made from pine shavings. Artificial 

 stone and cement were cited as examples of science creating useful substances and 

 the recent conversion of base earth into sapphire and rubies by two eminent 

 French chemists in 1879, as showing that things of beauty and joy forever were 

 not lost sight of. 



