GENERAL MEETINGS. 
35 
matics before the Society in general meeting has been greatly dimin¬ 
ished, the subject has not been entirely eliminated. 
The general fact appears to be that the Philosophical Society, 
being composed partly of men with a wide interest in scientific 
matters and partly of specialists in many scientific branches, affords 
a fitting arena for the discussion of subjects of general scientific 
interest, but is not equally adapted to the presentation of highly 
specialized researches. By a process of natural and unconscious 
selection it has discountenanced those papers which from their 
nature can interest only the devotees of a single science, and it, 
therefore, has not fully met the needs of the scientific community of 
Washington. The natural and proper result has been the institu¬ 
tion, without and Avithin the Society, of organizations undertaking 
the cultivation of narrower fields, and these have found material of 
their own without detraction of material Avhich natually came to us. 
In anthropology, in biology, in chemistry, and in mathematics Ave 
still receive the communications Avhich have a broad interest, and, 
as such papers are largely Avritten from a philosophic point of vieAAq 
it may Avell be that Ave are gainers by the multiplication of organi¬ 
zations. 
But while the modifications which have occurred in the ratios 
in which various subjects have been represented on the floor of the 
Society do not indicate an important yielding of our program to 
outside influence, they do indicate progressive tendencies in other 
directions. Astronomy, Avhich during the first period Avas the lead¬ 
ing theme, Avith a percentage of 23, has fallen, through 18, 18, and 
7, to 6 per cent.; geography, Avith 15 per cent, and 13 per cent, for 
the first tAVo periods, has 7, 7, and 10 for the last three. Geology, on 
the other hand, Avith 6 per cent, at first, has increased steadily, 
through 8, 9, and 14, to 27 per cent., and anthropology and meteor¬ 
ology, Avhile exhibiting fluctuations, have on the Avhole increased 
their percentages. During the first period astronomy and geography 
together gave 5 times as many papers as geology; during the last 
period their combined volume is only tAA^o-thirds that of geology. 
The general explanation is not far to seek. Geology has gained in 
importance on the floor of the Society because of the rapid groAvth 
of the Geological Survey,^which has brought to the city and to the 
Society a large number of geologists. The increased attention ol 
the Society to meteorology is traceable to the establishment of the 
Study Boom of the Weather Bureau, and the increase in an thro- 
