120 Editorial ComrA.ent. 
assumed to be the National Academy of Science, both on ac- 
count of its hmited membership and the exclusive manner in 
which additions to its members are made. A few words will 
be devoted presently to a consideration of how well these two 
bodies carry out their mission. 
The objects of the popular body of American scientists are 
said to be ' " by periodical and migratory meetings to promote 
intercourse between those who are cultivating science in differ- 
ent parts of the United States; to give a thorough and more 
general impulse, and a more systematic direction to scientific 
research in our country; and to procure for the labors of scien- 
tific men increased facilities and a wider usefulness." 
The first part of these objects sufficiently explains why the 
meetings of the Association are not exclusively given up to 
scientific discussion. 
One important function of these meetings is to enable men of 
the same or cognate branches of science to meet, compare notes, 
make each other's acquaintance and secure those numberless and 
nameless advantages which only personal intercourse can secure. 
For this reason as much time as can be spared from the sessions 
of the Sections is well employed in social reunions which are 
not of a character to interfere with the talking either of "shop" 
or of commonplace between contemporary workers in science. 
These recesses are well employed in doing this, and probably 
bear as much fruit in the end as the more technical discussions 
of papers, which latter are necessarily much restricted owing to 
their large number and the short time which is available to 
hear them. 
But too much time ought not to be devoted to these recesses 
under the guise of receptions, garden parties, excursions, &c., 
&c., because every meeting of a large number of persons from 
widely separated districts offers an opportunity for the system- 
atized exchange of ideas (as in the discussion of papers in Sec- 
tions and the like) which it costs a great deal of money and 
exceptionally favorable circumstances to bring about. There is 
one respect in which the leaders of our scientific Congress are 
derelict, viz.: in allowing the desire to excel previous feasts to 
^ See first paragraph of "Objects and rules of the Association," vol. i. 
Proc.A.A.A. S., p. 8. 
