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SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XXI. No. .526. 



ideas df the men themselves, also influ- 

 t'uoed in a favorable way by an increase 

 iu the number, and a widening of the 

 geographical range, of the persons of the 

 same cult who are thus affiliated. In gen- 

 eral, it may be said of the gatherings of 

 geographers, and of those interested in 

 their work, that the good resulting in- 

 creases in more than a simple ratio with 

 increase in numbers and with a broaden- 

 ing of habitat. The trustworthiness of 

 these statements finds support in the suc- 

 cess of the several international geograph- 

 ical congresses that have been held, and is 

 illustrated by the I'esults of the recent In- 

 ternational Congress of Arts and Science 

 assembled at the Fniversal Exposition at 

 St. Louis. 



Awakoiiiijj Jiilcrc.st in (icogiitpliy. — Still 

 another important function of geograph- 

 ical societies is the intluence they exert in 

 awakening and stimulating interest con- 

 cerning the wondiM-s and beauties of the 

 eai-tb ill the minds of the people forming 

 tli<' coiiiiiiunities where lliey ari' located. 

 15y \]\\\< (iilering to the curiosity ( f pec pie 

 tliey 'iijiy lie led to iiupiire more closely 

 into llie niiiis of !i(M grai)h('r<. This func- 

 tion is aiiah gcus to the ]irocess of creating 

 a demand in the commercial world, and is 

 not beiiealli the dignity of a geograi)hica] 

 society. Agencies in this direction and 

 exhibitions of maps, i)hotographs, etc., of 

 coiuiti'ies on which pulilic attention is cen- 

 tered, l)e i1 Soulli Africa or Manchuria; 

 collections illustrating the industries of 

 such countries, or a similar gathering to- 

 gether of anti(|uities, etc. The most com- 

 iiinii of such exhibits is the j)lacing on the 

 I)latforiii at a popular gathering, of an 

 exi)lorer or Iraveler, who, it may be whis- 

 pered in some instances, awakens greater 

 curiosity personally than for the additions 

 he has made to geography. 



Jiifturnce on TjP()idation.—Amox\^ the 

 f 'lictions of geographical .societies is also 



included, the influence they exert or should 

 possess in reference to advising legislative 

 bodies concerning the aid they are asked 

 to extend to expeditions, surveys and re- 

 search along various geographic lines, in 

 order that public funds available for .such 

 purposes may be wisely expended. The 

 recognition of the public importance of 

 several European geographical societies is 

 expressed in their names. One of the 

 functions of the National Academy of Sci- 

 .ences of the United States, in which geog- 

 raphy is represented, is to advise congress 

 in reference to scientific matters which 

 have a bearing on legislation or demand 

 legislative enactments. Geographical so- 

 cieties, however, which have no organic 

 connection with governments, may influ- 

 ence their action and lead them to foster 

 and promote geographical work, either di- 

 rectly by means of petitions, or indirectly 

 through the personal exei'tions of their 

 members, as \\ell as by means of the public 

 press, and in ( ther ways;. In the exercise 

 of this function also, large membership 

 and an extensive habitat, greatly enhance 

 the good a geographical society can do. and 

 increa.ses in more than a simple ratio with 

 increase in its membership and the breadth 

 of the region from which its members are 

 recruited. 



To summarize : The principal functions 

 of geographical societies are : The encour- 

 agement of exploration and research : the 

 holding of meetings for the presentation 

 of information on geographical matters, 

 and eliciting discx;ssion ; public lectures; 

 field excursions, etc.; publication of in- 

 structive geographical repoi'ts, essays, 

 maps, etc.; maintenance of libraries; fa- 

 cilitating personal conferences between 

 men engaged in like explorations or investi- 

 gations ; the stimulating of public interest 

 in matters geographical ; and the education 

 of legislators as to the relation of geog- 

 raphy to human advancement. Even this 



