New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-11-23
SCIENCE.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMY.

CUNPOWDER AND PYRONETERS.
IFRoM An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENCE THR TRlBUNEl
CAMBRIDGE, Mass, Nov. 2l.-The National
Academy OF Sciences met here yesterday morning in the
,ectpre room Of the Museum OF Comparative Zoology
The Academy differs from the American Association for
the Advancement of Science in excluding generally the
popular element from its deliberations and combining It
self 20 pure technical work Tho attraction for an a
dence under these conditions not very great and as
It's coming of was not all advertised. the Academy
was not ncommoded by the presence Of excessive num-
hers. The outside audience could be counted on ones
fingers without eXhausting their numbers, ana
was confined TO few special friends OF science
who had been favored with notice NO
doubt larger representation Of Cambridge intellect
and beauty could have been secured, If the Academy
had thought 1t worth while TO obtain II. The indifference
which the Academy exhibits TO popular applause or ap
plluse of any kind for that matter is certainly phO-
sophie II not scientific. Nobody thinks of applaudng
anybody The mutual admiration element seems en-
urely absent Profound deliberations are conducted
without noise. The amount of work done and ground
gone under the impulse Of pure spirit Of industry
Is surprising There is hitch tagging. The meet
Ing was called TO order by Prof WOcott Gibbs, Vice
President nry being absent and proceeded at once TO
work. The Ncc-Prosident with remarkable avoidance
Of temptation. did not stop 20 make speech but
said he Sad that there other business before
the Academy but its work. and he Immediately invited
Prof. AGassiz 90 give his opening paper.
HOW TIE ACADEMY ORGANIZED.
word about the organization Of the Acaieuy NAV DC
IN place The original act Of Incorporation enacted
hy Congress. and approved by the President March g.
t,G3. Under this act the number OF members was lin
lied to Tails found too small TO include the rep
scientific talent of the country, and by
amendment % the act approved July H. 1870 the mita
uon removed, and the Academy has about IS
active members, about 10 honorary members ana some
% foreign associations The Academy avoids the inter
rpton and agitation OF frequent elections 10y retaining
Is officers Tor six years. stated session is held in
Washington on the third Tuesday In April ana another
may be held M ,rr time and place rs the Council shall
- - r.,
determine Among ,ne members present "cIc I'o,
Us. H. -.utcrs. Prof J. c. Brush. sheffield Scientific
school De-; Prof J. n. Collin. Lifayette College, Penn
-}Naua; PROF. Josiah p Cooke OF Harvard University
william Fcrul. L. 5. Coast Survey; Prof WocOtt Gibbs,
Harvard University; Prot j. f. l-ard, u. . Coast sur
try: Dr. j. IT, L. Conts Philadelphia; Prof Alfred VI.
ta,cs, Stevens Institute OF Technology; Charles 4.
,.l, d s,!oo: j. NJ crafts Boston Institute OF Tech
uolu,; d.. o. H. Irumbu Hartford. Conn; Prof. j. ID.
Whitney. State G.o.o-i,t of California Prof Joseph
nt, OF IIa,,a,l. and Pro-. Cuar.es A. Young OF Dart
u.uuth CIlIc...
THE Nr.,rlN ov co,rAp, TIyr GEOLOGY
Tie first paper by Prof Louis Agissiz, Oh the Or
,,iztti. DID,. t. Museum of Couiulrtiye Geology call
- 49,. -, 90 ..,,.,,,,. - in
"" I''''' '','~' ''S,' ~ '''i0" ~
Ve-tIau- o. results obtained by member is formally
called "papar." Bat Prof. Agassz, lis son, and sew
-r ...r ,,,,,l,,,. s,,.o tr,r tho storas of their
~ I'' 100 f v, in "a and ,Tbofavr2
'. i -, l - l,n .,t,,I,,, She'd since then When
rfU. q TO- IA ID
t'coo arising ron me si o. M., FLaHciS ~ Si5,
sL''Il pms u iu '..'Acs 81, wi oi' ,y ht win
''' 80, 80 n, i = h. ,.S'ie ~, I,v lie founlafIou
a., - -, ti'oy .b'@li,i me Ia take RANK
,..,. ,i l,,..t ,t',n. If ~. kind IN existence
@ " ,., ti. cn,it,on af tbr museum no Inc
ln',"" a. 1' n- 9 oCuu LA nj I nm sr "a manner
~ I'D, . go ,,' "' t'' '1 i ~ o ~, IA SI( a. many
,trrsc. ms r,.-.iSe They we're vonna men his
a, , had arranged 10 ,ve them As good an OPP
" '' D u. ,I-S6l.' Inc means ef SorS hdd
irrs. H. had placed tns largest stress on The OF
~ on a., ,3,,r,,cries IN when work cond be
~ l,l M ine MUSEUM They have hardly begun ex-
mhuI- tA,t y. ciucns Itel are stH working Tor tIe
@g,1il9n ,- as 9pgCS ~ - ~" '1b head
nj Vlr. Inc had placed scientific man. The
lIboia-or. Of Entomology IS tue most advanced:
me- i'l ,s iIi' AZ il roiId he svstemaficaiiy But
,.t Ia.acs tAis department particularly important Is
fl. t0.p-tu collection which the 1--we history OF ali
t.r u.,t -. 10y actual specimens can oe studied IN iu,
.-cfttcd iu nature so that You have an entire case
r.i.t,,iI single species IN all stages Of Its growth.
H. .r..Iaals llcm,c yes give the history. The cOec-
tuu Wa. ar-siu ly Dr. Hagen himself IN Europe. His
,1.,tI.u Uas operated an That OF the museum The
Professor felt Justified inl that the world has not
.u.. ..uf4tr collection tudt. Inc laboratory has /
Ir.u mad" sryc,aDe for study by referring TO it all
t. U'.ht h''nelus 10 LhtomoiOSy' Inc other laDOld
Jni. aT. 4D lurHdrd aUtc OF progress but not COM
I.. - Laboratories "I COuchoIogy and PaleOutolOSy
a... I order to Tie complete exhibition OF the fossils
I-i1. . accurate muutls unique specimens
IT, .u .-Ncr found casts done better. The collection
t,,.ei I.l.els department for the higher verte-
irtt.s r,olc,tiou 0 birds is one OF great value.
is,t hi, o the natural history OF donesticated ami
l.. - .t been utgau. lie called attention the
Co.e, 90 N,ri,b.ates ana to the specimens,
,L..-t..l-. A 70. lu tho cellar.
Io,uatlrs 81 museums he would say that The eXpc-
rene. L,c IS, That al modes OF keeping specimens nth
uo. must Do used preservation. Instead OF
barrels tLCv used copper Glass jars still
PENDED hy the museum Tor alCOuCl Hnl Jas is very
great No museum could exist without large appropra-
tons for s maintenance. lie ud not think tear mu-
ecin Of iu portuce could bc sustained short OF $4,000
year Hc hoped the ,c'ith .i'h Wvuid JOih WIN mn