PHILOSOPHY AND SPECIALTIES. 
9 
meetings of all the societies during each season, are so en¬ 
tirely occupied by the reading and discussion of original 
papers that no moment is left for social intercourse, that 
being provided for by the Cosmos Club, to which the work¬ 
ing members of the several societies belong. This exhibit 
shows an amount of activity in Washington among learned 
societies without parallel in any other city in the world, 
notwithstanding the great superiority in population of most 
of the cities in which such societies flourish. 
As this remarkable action of divergence and differentiation 
has proceeded according to natural methods, without seces¬ 
sion, quarrel, or catastrophe, it may seem at first sight to 
have been wholly beneficial, but it has some results requir¬ 
ing consideration. 
Certain practical disadvantages attending differentiation 
appeal with special force only to the active officers of the 
several bodies, who pay in full, if not dearly, for their hon¬ 
ors. The members generally have an impression that the 
whole of the work done consists in attendance at the meet¬ 
ings, speaking as occasion arises, and listening—the latter 
being, when the wrong specialty has the floor, not always the 
easiest task. But there is much more besides. The prepa¬ 
ration, arrangement, publication, and, in general, the busi¬ 
ness management, without which the meetings would not 
succeed or continue, constitute a heavy tax on time and 
strength. The problem is to minimize this incidental work 
and its attending expense, which certainly is not accom¬ 
plished by multiplication and complexity of machinery. 
The force of inevitable sentiment must be recognized. If 
all the residents in Washington who are interested in science 
should belong to one great and powerful body, each could 
hold it in pride and affection, but the glory and strength 
shown in that concentration cannot, when in fragments, call 
forth such enthusiasm or attachment. Indeed, baneful com¬ 
petition by individuals or cliques may be apprehended from 
the conditions to be expected, if not already existing, and 
weakness follows disintegration. 
