INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF RESEARCH. 125 
Stimulants to Research Work. 
Dr. Gilman, in his charming reminiscences of the non- 
resident lecturers of the Johns Hopkins University, related 
the following of the great mathematician Sylvester: 
l ‘Sylv ester enjoyed stimulants — I do not mean such vulgar 
and material articles as alcohol and coffee. I never saw any 
indications that he cared for their support. But he loved 
such stimulants to intellectual activity as music and light, 
lively society, in which he was not called upon to participate. 
Once at a symphony concert I sat just behind him, admiring 
the dome of his capacious cranium, unconcealed by hair, 
and I noticed how absorbed he was. The next day, Sunday, 
he came to me impetuously to say that he had worked out 
some mathematical proposition at the concert of the evening 
before, the music having quickened his mathematical mind. 
He really thought this was his greatest achievement yet, 
and he had hastened to write it out and mail it to the Acad- 
emy of Sciences in Paris. Once he told me that, having a 
special paper to prepare, he went to a store and bought a 
pound of candles, which he placed about his room, on all 
sorts of extemporaneous candlesticks; Tor light/ he said, Ts 
a most powerful tonic/ ” 
These anecdotes will serve to recall similar ones of noted 
men, and many of you, doubtless, were this an experience 
meeting, could easily occupy the balance of the evening in 
delightful recollections of what each has found best to stimu- 
late him to renewed intellectual activity; and I dare say that 
many of you would unite with me in declaring that member- 
ship in this Society has been one of the most helpful and 
stimulating influences. 
We really have much to be proud of in the history and 
membership of the Philosophical Society of Washington. I 
should, indeed, consider myself remiss in the duties imposed 
upon me by the subject selected did T not refer at least to 
the eminent part this Society, through its members, has taken 
in bringing about the wonderful appreciation of scientific 
work and scientific methods we are today witnessing in our 
country. There have been several notable addresses by past 
