The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-02-15

SOCIAL SCIENcE.-Invitati0n were issued |
during the past week to number of ladies and |
gentlemen of this city to meet at the rooms of |
Portland Institute on Saturday evening, the |
18Th inst, to consider the expediency and |
practicability of forming an association for the
discussion and dissemination of views upon
questions embraced in what has come to be
termed "Social Science"
In response to the invitations a party of some
thirty persons composed of many of the lead
ing minds of the community and Q nbracing
the ministerial, medical and legal professions,
art, business and the press assembled in the
reading room of the Institute" last Saturday
evening at 71-2 o'clock The meeting was
called +, order by Hon. George #. Talbot, who
nominated Hon. L. d. M. Sweat for Chairman
Mr.. Sweat was thereupon elected and Mr..
Talbot was chosen Secretary. 9gg ,sa
The Chairman then called upon Mr. Talbot
for his views in regard to the proposed Asso-
| citation. Mr.. Talbot said he had hoped to have
obtained from Boston, where a society Of this
description was in operation, some particulars
in regard to its workings and success in that
city, but he had not yet received an answer
He then went on to explain his views as to
what the chara ter of such society should be
and what subjects could be discussed with ad-
vantage and destruction to the members. He
mentioned among 9thfanSfe 4sh Suppression Of
crime" and the preservation of fish in our
lakes, ponds and rivers" Collector washburn
mentioned our Common schools" as a tonic
on which reliable information might be elected
and reasons shown why the percentage of at
tendance had fallen off the past twenty years.
John Neal, Esq, thought tn, e preserya-
ton Of our forests" another fruitful theme.
Rev. Mr. Bodies mentioned 'city drainage :
and other gentlemen other subjects. 1t was
thought that State and city governments
might derive great deal of useful knowledge
from the results of these discussions. eeaa \
One gentleman suggested that other cities in
the State be requested to form kind red associa-
lions, and, at the annual meeting, members Of
these other societies be invited to take part
and the bringing together men and women
who had given much thought to the greal
problems of the day, from ali parts of Name
would be productive of incalculable benefit
Mr.. Nathan Webb said he thought that there
was too great tendency at the present day fol
certain men to attempt to lead public opinion
on great questions, political, scientific and lit
erary, without sufficient investigation o.
statistics, OF the light thrown upon them by
men of great learning and research, and
careful examination of them in all their bear
ings. He thought care and time should b.
employed in the investigation Of the subj ct.
: that would be brought up for discussion, SC
that the speaker, or writer, would feel that be
had offered all the Information on the subjec
he could obtain, with his own conclusions de-
rived therefrom, and at the same time NIGH
be prepared to receive opposite opinions which
others might advance after hearing his own
and which struck him as pertinent and forci'
ble ss'a.l
After Mr.. Webb's remarks committee was
appointed by the Chairman consisting Of
hea. G. f. Talbot. chairman, Collector Wash.
burn, Dbl. 7. DAM, A. P. Stone: Esq, Judge
Goddard, r. N. swan, Esq, Nathan Webb
Esq /, and Rev. MIR. II asaen> to report plan Of
organization at the same pla>e and hour next
Saturday evening. The mees1p then ID, ad.
journed to next Saturday evening, the 2otn
o inst. ~ -so,ia ea 70 ablsaiv.l.to
Many interesting remarks were made by lie
gentlemen on the subjects suggested during
the meetig, and the, occasion was oenivened
II bv not Jew salies Of wit Although none Of
. the laos present offered any suggestions, we
have doubt valuable information could have
bee, given by them if called upon. The
,neSing broke up at o'clock and the ladies
> Al gentlemen separately evidently much
leased at the initiatory steps taken towards
khe foundation of most important society.