36 The Chicago Academy of Sciences. 



varied scientific specialties, who would enjoy meeting 

 together on common ground in friendly intercourse, 

 should there be established and maintained an arena 

 in some central locality, where all might unite. They 

 also believed that The Chicago Academy of Sciences, 

 because of its history, its traditions and the successes 

 it had achieved, its independence in spite of the misfor- 

 tunes which it had suffered, because of what it was 

 and what it could become, should be so ordered and 

 administered that these elements could meet in its 

 building and unite under its name. They believed 

 that it should stand on neutral ground. 



The members also advanced in opposition to the 

 plan the long distance of the university campus from 

 the center of the city. This argument was also 

 advanced as earnestly at the time the Douglas estate 

 offered grounds on Cottage Grove avenue. The mem- 

 bers present at the regular meeting of the Academy, 

 when the proposition was submitted, voted against its 

 acceptance, and the trustees acted in accordance with 

 their expressed wish. 



The result of this discussion was most satisfactory, 

 for it awoke the members from their lethargy. All 

 began to seek some more satisfactory solution of the 

 difficulties in which the Academy was involved. At 

 the annual meeting of the year 1892 Dr. Selim H. 

 Peabody was elected president. He had served as 

 secretary during the period from December, 1875, to 

 October, 1878, at which time he became a professor in 

 the State University of Illinois. The meetings were 

 well attended, and other organizations, such as the 

 Chicago Chemical Society and the State Microscopical 

 Society, expressed a desire to transfer their member- 

 ship to the Academy. This union was perfected. A 

 large number of worthy and working scientists applied 

 for enrollment, so that within that year the list of 

 active members was nearly doubled. The members, 

 both new and old, were ready to form themselves into 



