New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-28
SCIENCE AND FUN.
CLOSE OF THE PORTLAND CONVENTION.


PORTLAND, Aug. 26.-TO-days meeting had
principal reference to winding up the proceedings
of the ASSOCIATION and its adjournment But though
adjourned the meeting In great part still remains, but
few OF the having yet left the city, The great
proportion STAG, 20 go tomorrow to Upper NewHamp
shire ana the White Mountains, at the invita-
ton OF the Portland and ogdensburg Railroad
and after this there Is still another Trip
90 PASSPORT by steamer. These excursions aio
quite much part OF the proceedings Of the Assoea
ton their sessions IN Portland: and am no. quito
that they not equally productive OF 'aiu"oo
scientific results in the opportunity they anoru ot '
Interchange Of views and acquired knowieuse' "S "o
for such cnrsOry examinations OF 'ne i'uua ~
fora and the rocks OF the localities visited ana 'non
when Won look into the faces OF these wearyeyed men
who have spent most OF the previous months OF the
year IN hard study and research you heeu no P"ySr
clans judgement 20 you that as class tney arc
most IN need Of relaxation.
Al This mornings meeting the venerable Prof henry
Of the Smithsonian Institution arose and gave few
Timely words OF encouragement and advice TIC con-
graduated the association the success OF thls meet
iae lie had understood that the fruits OF many special
invet cations had been presented at this session lie
rcioced IN this aud that the most OF the papers were
not of speculative character. The vice OF the DAY IN
scencc cuninlted in the tendency in America TO sub
fliute abstract speculation for studous investigation
More actual work should be the basis lie recognized
the value Of ypoheses that forwarded and taouated
the result. attained: but hypoheses must DC drawn eA
cusyey from the data Of actual facts ana those were
not 70 be attained without patient labor IL Is only Oy
accumulting data that we can advance from the IN
known to the known.
Prof Newborry, after handsome anusion to the re-
firing President Prof ]. Lawrence Smith, protested
agnust the opposition ito the development theory as
expounded ia that gentleman's address Prot' new
berry said he was not himself Darwinian' out ne
recognized the value of the evolution theory In science
You caunot measure its value you the work OF an
astronomer measured by definite ratios OF space
aud time; hut he considered the hypothesis
Que OF the most important contributions ever
made 60 knowledge of nature. Most men
and women partsans, aud some are willing 70 sup
pose that hypothesis is sufficient to account for all
The phenomenal Of the animal kingdom, while. on the
other hand there those who see in it nothing but
failure and dodciency. Let assume judicial POSI-
ton and allow the Of time and truth 70 settle the
questions involved Co. however in whatever direction
the facts may lead and throw prejudice to the winds
Recollect that all truth is consistent with ITSELF
Prof. GuyOt OF Portland referred TO the remark o.
Prof Henry that the materials Of science must be nrS
attained aud clearly defined by profound study. But
when we have the foundation built cannot rest there
Science the reflection OF the mind Of ITS basis
must be the works the Creator No single fact should
m regarded as established till all that pertains TO it Is
also known Then the invisible idea Oe elucidated
from the slowly accumulated truths taught by the
microscope and the scapel
PARTING WORDS.
Prof Lowering in parting words, congratulated mem
bers large and prosperous meeting great fact
accomplished We should now thank these eminent stu
dents who have been willing 70 leave their la6ors to
present 10 rs their results He thanked Prot Peirce,
Superintendent the Coast Survey Prof Henry Of the
Smithsonian, and the friends from Canada who have
shea ustcr upon the meeting. He alluded to the once
genial voices would again gladden. our ears
10 Col Foster Of whose life memorial will be prepared
h. a too Of he
Prof Torrey lie hoped-in aluson TO the motto Of the
AssocatiOn-that while after sun went down, we
should yet illuminated by rising consultations IN the
East Harder than all other words In the language was
that which had 70 be spoken. He himself was no
longer their President the Association was adjourned
The usual thick cloud OF resolutions OF thanks 10 all
concerned in the meeting and 10 all who had facilitated
n both M aud ont OF this city, offered and adopted
The next meeting win be held at Hartford, Conn., be-
eiunng on The second Wednesday 10 August The Presi.
dent elected incoming year Dr. LIE COnte OF Phil
siclphii; Vice-Presdent, Prof C. 8. Lyman OF New
Haven General Secretary, DR. Hamlin of Bangor; Treas
urer WIN. s. vaux OF Philadelphia.
The Association invited by the Boston and Maine
Railroad. then went by rail Orchard Beach, ami en-
ioyed a clam-bake. There is park Of great natural
and some artificial beauty the premises and hard
sandy beach, which make this wateringplace very
attractive 20 visitors.
Tie evening was devoted to Section @. This brought
large tendance, and the hall crowded to
Section took the place Of Section ID, and the black
board there appeared the following equation, which, to
the least quite Ineligible as any that had
preceded %.
Oh therefore:
Q=B=AD-D2=A2 D2
D=Df renee A-DlxD=tA-DlxA+D.
Q-B=D. DAD.
D=A AD=A2 40.
OBJ. QisB
This was duly expounded in a iaughabe way. Prof
that xuoQ NJ l. Os re-
yersiuF ~ =1fl. aud this putting the stroke below
the line made q; therefore b=q.
By this time the audience began TO appreciate the bur
lcsauo upo er late labOrs which the Professors were
furnishing The presiding officer of the section while
{oke after Joke interrupted his speech begged the audi
ence regard them the laughing philosophers
PROF. Morse made secretary of the meeting, with
orders o. keep records the blackboard. pair OF
cures had been drawn one of the boards OF some
nondo rpt finals. Of which had very recognizs-
Die facial likeness to Prot. Swallow.
A paper was read on the Darwiman Missing Link-the
creature that was neither nor monkey, but stood
between them; and the deductions brought to bear
proved that he must have retired TO Slmss Hole.
Prof horse taking the chalk, remarked on the ire
quenoy with which naturasts were mistaken in their
hrst Impressions aud drew on the board a fragment
which nc said friend naturalist, had reconstructed
An animal from The reconstruction effected on the
blackboard aud something like very hideous tomcat
was the result Meanwhile be describing the bones
and parts as he added them drawing and speaking at
The came moment. Then he suggested certain anat0m
cal objections and possible improvements. which pro-
duced an amusing change in the figure. Finally, he
said they concluded restore the fragment ON diff
fercnt hypothesis. II drawn again. and IN an In
slant few strokes drawn additionally revealed Its true
character. II was the handle Of jug.
Prof white disooursod on ancient she'll heaps He
eaid that he had gathering specimens from local
ity abOut S miles from Portland, but he would not
name h should other investigators He