130 
EDWIN SMITH. 
taming to geodesy. In 1900 he undertook an elaborate 
series of experiments for the study of the seasonal range in 
the value of the coefficient of refraction, but a final report 
was never received from him, although he made several an- 
nouncements of the satisfactory progress he was making in 
the perfection of a theory for this important term. His 
study of the question of the existence of sensible tides in 
the earth’s surface had also occupied his attention for many 
years, and was the object of study with him up to his last 
days. It is known that he gave profound study to the 
problems of the tides, gravity, the causes of the variations 
of latitudes, etc., and it is also known from his own state- 
ments that he was preparing his theories for publication. 
The most frequent references to Mr. Eimbeck by his intimate 
associates are appreciations of his suggestive and illuminating 
discussions of many of the problems that attract the physi- 
cist and astronomer, and all the problems to which the geod- 
esist gives attention. 
In appearance Mr. Eimbeck was the elegant and distin- 
guished gentleman. Tall, erect, of fine proportions and 
handsome features, he was often admired as he walked the 
streets of Washington carrying an overcoat on his arm, which 
he disdained to wear even in the coldest weather. In his 
early days he was of robust health, but as early as 1890 lie 
began to complain that he could no longer endure either the 
physical or mental strain of former years. A few years later 
he thought he had Bright’s disease, but would not consult 
a physician. This disease, with the complications that so 
frequently come with it, slowly crept upon him till in 190(3 
he resigned from the Survey, hoping a life free from care 
would improve if not restore his health. It was too late; 
he gradually failed, and finally, on March 27,1909, his death 
resulted from a stroke of paralysis. 
Mr. Eimbeck was a founder member of the Cosmos Club, 
for thirty years a Fellow of the American Association for the 
Advancement of Science, a member of the Washington Acad- 
emy of Science, of the National Geographic Society, of the 
