SCIENCE. 



FEIDAY, SEPTEMBEK 11, 1885. 



THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AT 

 ANN ARBOR. 



It is well known in what a dilemma the as- 

 sociation was placed at the close of the Phila- 

 delphia meeting. Without an authorized invi- 

 tation from any community to hold this year's 

 meeting within its bounds, and propelled by 

 the desire to find cooler quarters than those 

 occupied in Philadelphia, the council hesitated 

 between Mount Desert and Ann Arbor. It 

 is hard for a college professor to cut short his 

 summer rest, and hurry back to make his 

 confreres happy during their week's sta}^ near 

 his lecture-room ; and it is especially to be 

 regretted, that each year some well-worked 

 men give up their whole vacation, or add to 

 their working hours, that the expected visitors 

 may be kindly cared for. If there is any re- 

 ward for this unselfish labor, it comes in the 

 satisfaction with their reception shown by the 

 invaders. And we are confident that all who 

 have been present at the Ann-Arbor meeting 

 will be glad that the proprietors of the hotels 

 of Mount Desert turned a deaf ear to the 

 proposals of the association secretary ; and 

 that the citizens of Ann Arbor, urged perhaps 

 a little by Prof. J. W. Langley, tendered to 

 the association the use of their halls and 

 houses, and the promise of a kindly welcome. 



On every side were heard expressions of 

 pleasure at the arrangements of the local 

 committee. The rooms of the university fur- 

 nished the most convenient meeting-places the 

 association has used for many years. The 

 meeting was not a large one, the total attend- 

 ance of members reaching only 364 ; but the 

 quality, if not the number (176), of papers 

 presented was up to the average. 



During the meeting, two changes were made 

 in the organization. By one, the section of 

 histology and microscopy was abohshed. This 



No. 136. — 1885. 



change has been urged for some time by 

 those who do not think a special science of 

 microscopy exists, but that the microscope is a 

 tool used by scientific men in various branches. 

 The other change was in the name of the 

 section of mechanics, the words ' and engineer- 

 ing ' being added to the title, that it may be 

 more clearly understood by Americans that 

 those interested in all branches of engineering 

 are invited to take part in the proceedings. 



As this was the first meeting of scientific 

 men since the action of the government in re- 

 gard to the coast-survey, it is not surprising 

 that the question should have been discussed 

 in private and by the council. The matter 

 was referred to a committee, which offered a 

 series of resolutions given on another page. 

 At the Friday meeting, when the report of this 

 committee was made to the societ}^, the interest 

 of those present was shown by the eager gath- 

 ering into a more compact body, that the de- 

 bate might be the more readily followed. The 

 discussion proved to be purely formal, no one 

 off'ering any objection to the resolutions, which 

 were unanimously accepted as the sense of the 

 meeting. Indorsing remarks were made b}' 

 Prof. S. P. Langley, Dr. James Hall, Prof. T. 

 C. Mendenhall, and others. 



In every direction, one sees at the associa- 

 tion meetings the conspicuous badge of the 

 reporter ; and each secretary, at the close of 

 the session of his section, is approached by 

 discomfited members of the press, for at least 

 a few suggestions as to what the talk has all 

 meant. Each day, one is urged b}^ the news- 

 boy to buy a ' full account ' of the proceedings. 

 He may find some information as to the pro- 

 gramme, but will probably be disappointed in 

 the report of the papers and discussions, even 

 of those which could be made interesting to the 

 laymen. There are always a few eccentric in- 

 dividuals present, and these furnish a fruitful 

 theme for the reporters' wit ; and the officers of 

 the association come in for a share of attention. 



