930 The American Naturalist. k [November, 
EDITORIALS. 
EDITORS, E. D. COPE AND J. S. KINGSLEY. 
—We have received prospectuses of a World’s Congress Auxiliary 
of the Columbian Exposition to be held in Chicago in 1893. This 
auxiliary is to consist of a number of gatherings of persons interested 
in human progress. The president, Mr. Charles C. Bonney, says with 
truth, that “it is impossible to estimate the advantages that would 
result from the mere establishment of personal acquaintance and 
friendly relations among the leaders of the intellectual and moral 
world, who now, for the most part, know each other only through the 
interchange of publications,’and perhaps the formalities of corre- 
spondence.” That such meetings properly conducted must be both 
pleasant and profitable there can be no doubt. If, on the other hand, 
they are occupied by the debates of uneducated or silly persons, they 
will not benefit the Exposition nor the participants. Careful criticism 
of all communications should be exercised by a competent committee 
of each division; and a chairman be selected for each, who shall know 
how to maintain the relevancy of discussion. In order to secure the 
former object written abstracts of communications should be sent to 
the committees in advance of the sessions. 
The classification of the subdivisions of the congress as issued to 
date might be somewhat improved. Thus, there is a department of 
moral and social reform, and separate departments of temperance and 
Sunday rest, which are obviously moral and social questions. The 
two latter departments should be merged in the first-named. There is 
also a department of art, and a separate department of music, which 
is one of the arts. In the subdivisions of the departments some anom- 
alies present themselves, as Microscopy, which is an art, under Science 
and Philosophy; and separate sections are allowed for African and 
Indian (query Hindoo) Ethnology, while all other races are included 
under but one head. Just what the Department of Religion is to 
accomplish outside of moral and social reform, for which there is 
another department, it is difficult to imagine. It may be safely pre- 
dicted that theology will not be the subject of discussion. So far as 
the scientific interests of the congress are concerned we may be sure 
agi will be well cared for. The names of Lindahl in Geology, Forbes 
Zoology, Bastin in Botany, Putnam in Archeology, and others, are 
pebes guarantees, 
