1880. ] Editors’ Table. ‘7 
EDITORS’ TABLE. 
EDITORS: A. S. PACKARD, JR., AND E. D. COPE. 
In our last number we called attention to the status of the 
modified organization of the Academy of Natural Sciences of 
Philadelphia, which was adopted four years ago, We also referred 
to a document relating to it, which was recently issued by a 
majority of a meeting of the council of that body. We criticised 
this document adversely, but did not enter into a detailed exami- 
nation of it, thinking that the general confusion of ideas and 
unworthiness of sentiment to be found in it, were too self-evident 
to require refutation. Since, however, many of the members of 
the academy have voted to support the policy which is embodied 
in it, some of whom have not understood its drift, while others 
have not even read it, we give space to a criticism of some of its 
salient points. 
From the positions assumed by the author of this document, 
we select the following: 
(1.) “ Under the letter and spirit of the by-laws, the professors 
constitute, in fact, a class of beneficiaries of the academy. * 
It is not apparent that it is essential to the prosperity of the 
academy to admit any class of its beneficiaries or subordinates to 
participate in the administration of its affairs. Nor is it manifest 
that their studies or the performance of their prescribed duties 
would be facilitated by their being made members of the council 
for life” (p.9). Imagine language like this addressed to the acad- 
emicians of Paris or St. Petersburg! And the presence in the 
council of two paid papiye of the academy at the present time, 
has never disturbed any one’s composure, probably because nT 
are not likely to be candidates for professorial honors. 
(2.) “ Those students who are not obliged to follow a vocation 
for a livelihood are not in need of the benefits of a professorship, e : 
or of the Jessup Fund, to enable them to pursue their studies in 
the academy” (p. 9). So then, Hébert and Gaudry, and others, 
are not eligible to chairs in the Jardin des Plantes and the Sor- 
bonne, because they are rich; and so with many others in all oe 
parts of Europe! But there are reasons other than the posses- Se 
Sion of pecuniary means, why a man should not be a pat th 
the academy ; for, 
(3. ) “ The professors are to have custody of all the collections 
in | the museum, worth Mogeriet pone a aati of a million 
