164 
GALLAUDET. 
a pleasure, but almost a duty, to welcome to our midst the 
representatives of science, learning, and art from our own 
or other countries. Thus every national society holding a 
meeting in Washington finds the facilities of the Club placed 
at its disposal, not only for the individual uses of its mem- 
bers, but, when our modest assembly hall will answer the 
purpose, for the use of the visiting society. We have not 
allowed any learned association coming here for a meeting, 
or any man of eminence in the learned world to visit the 
city, without, if the case was known to our members, tender- 
ing our hospitalities. We thus aim to show to the world at 
large what Washington is trying to be and to do.” 
When sojourning in foreign lands Professor Newcomb 
received many social courtesies which were very agreeable 
to him. He had the honor of being entertained at luncheon 
by the Emperor of Germany, and was received at court by 
the kings of Italy, Sweden, and England, and by the Presi- 
dent of France. 
Professor Newcomb never cared for games of cards with 
others, but was fond of solitaire, and of working out some 
puzzles with cards. 
Pie was devoted to chess and often played a game without 
having the board before him, carrying the position of each 
man in his mind as the moves went forward. 
Professor Newcomb was most loyal in his friendships. 
Many illustrations of this could be given did time allow. 
One will suffice. 
In 1869 he was observing an eclipse in Des Moines, Iowa, 
and was there taken severely ill. A young resident of the 
city cared for him as for a brother, bringing him all the 
way to Washington on a bed. The friendship thus begun 
continued during the forty remaining years of Professor 
Newcomb’s life, not only in Washington, where the friend 
came to occupy positions of prominence, but in foreign capi- 
tals, where he represented our government in royal courts. 
Profeasor Newcomb had decided views in regard to reli- 
gion. He never united with any church, but made it a 
practice during many years to attend services with his wife. 
He maintained the custom through life of saying grace at 
table, and often gathered his children together after dinner 
