300 
cal society met last autumn, Mr. Christie, the 
present astronomer royal, declared the subject 
‘¢ pretty well thrashed out, and quite unsuitable 
for discussion at their meetings.’’ Since that 
time, both sides have had important accessions ; 
no less a person than Col. Tennant, of her 
Majesty’s mint, Calcutta, taking essentially the 
same view with Mr. Stone, and Professors Cay- 
ley and Adams coming forward with the clear- 
est of proof that no such deviations as those 
indicated by Mr. Stone exist. 
At first blush, it will seem very improbable 
that an astronomer of Mr. Stone’s well-earned 
reputation for acuteness should get muddled in 
a matter of fundamental astronomy involving 
only simple algebra ; but when he finds himself 
unable to clarify, after a half-dozen astrono- 
mers more able than himself have been en- 
deavoring for six months to convince him of 
his fallacy, it can scarcely be called rash het- 
erodoxy to suggest that an error on the part of 
his opponents may be at least among the pos- 
sibilities. Although he is now aware that it 
may appear useless to continue researches of 
which the fundamental principle is disputed by 
astronomers of note, his latest utterance is, ‘‘ I 
have not seen at present any evidence which 
weakens in the slightest degree my confidence 
in the accuracy of my results.’’ It is very 
difficult for the non-mathematical to recognize 
the possibility of a mathematical dispute, even 
when the terms involved are of slight impor- 
tance; but no sort of excuse can appear for a 
difference regarding a supposed discrepancy of 
this magnitude, involving the early disruption 
of fundamental tables of the celestial motions. 
Unless, then, this matter admits of speedy and 
permanent decision, the one way or the other, 
with the entire agreement of all parties to the 
controversy, astronomy would appear to run 
the serious risk of forfeiting her claim to a 
place among the exact sciences. 
Ont of the indications of the activity in 
chemical matters in Germany may be found in 
the great prosperity of the Berlin chemical 
society. This organization dates only from 
SCIENCE. 
[Vou. ILL. No. 58 
the year 1868, when it was started under the 
auspices of the Berlin chemists, headed by 
the genial Hofmann. In that year the volume 
containing the articles communicated to the 
society numbered only about two hundred and 
eighty pages. In a short time the society 
became a national instead of a local affair, 
fully deserving the name, ‘ Deutsche chemische 
geselischaft,’ given to it at the outset. Accord- 
ing to the last annual report, the number of 
members is now nearly three thousand ; an in- 
crease of about two hundred having been made 
during the past year. The last annual volume 
published by the society numbers over three 
thousand pages. Of the members, eight hun- 
dred and forty-eight are foreigners ; the largest 
number (one hundred and eighty-four) of 
these being English, while there are one hun- 
dred and forty-five Americans ; and one hun- 
dred and forty-four Swiss, on the list. It will 
be seen that more than two-thirds, or about 
two thousand, of the members, are Germans. 
It would lead too far to discuss fully the 
causes of the activity thus indicated. One of 
the most potent direct causes is, no doubt, the 
close bond of connection that has been estab- 
lished in Germany between pure chemistry: 
and its industrial applications. While there 
is, perhaps, no country in which the maxim 
‘ Science for the sake of science’ is more fre-. 
quently heard or more firmly believed in than 
in Germany, it is equally true that in this same 
country the most successful applications of 
the truths established by the votaries of pure 
chemistry have been made. Industries are 
there springing up every year, founded directly 
upon the most recent discoveries made in the 
university laboratories. Large numbers of 
thoroughly trained chemists are employed in 
the new factories. The value of science in 
carrying on industrial operations is fully rec- 
ognized. It is certainly instructive to note 
that this state of things has been brought 
about by devotion to pure science. 
talked of ‘ practical man’ who wants‘ none of 
your theories ’ is not a common phenomenon 
in Germany. 
The much _ 
