New-York tribune., 1874-08-04
OHEMISTRY'S CENTENNIAL.
mu.r WE OWE TO TILE LABORATORY.


| CHEMISTS TO JOIN THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION
| FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF Observation-Disclosures
OF PROPS CROFT, CoPPEE, AND J. LAWRENCE
SMITH.
| trpox THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRrBUSE.l
| NORTHUMBERLAND, Penn, Aug. Never In
the eyentfI history this te nestled amid the
mountains and tho forks OF the sus1uehanna RIVER.
has there been such day OF excitement Never before
has such conroursc of strangers filed its streets. its
bouses and the slender accommodation offer to the
wayfarer.
No pretticr or p!easaner place in thcae hot midsum-
mer days could have been selected for convention
The cool breeze OF the mountains tempers the sunshine
Delightful stretches OF scenery broken By wooded hghs
not wal, ing n grandeur meet the from every ee-
waited point almost from every window; yet ~ may DO
doubted whether Dr.. Joseph Priestey that stern ola
iconocas had thought OF the picturesque In selecting
for a refuge from bowling mob OF Birmingham this
mountain home. 1t may well be doubted, for he picked
as site for his mansion when there was all arouha
him where to choose, plot down by the river side
where hte but the geam Of the North Branch OF the
susquehanna could have been visible through the close
embo werng trees. Even this spot has suffered al tue
hands OF unkindly fortune Whatever there was OF
natural beauty about been sadly shorn by rail-
way passing IN front OF the house. carrying the black
diamonds OF Pennsylvania from Wiikeabarre, ana
canal sxirnc the waters edge along the rear Of the
property. The modern improvements OF The town'jne
tasteful villas Of the better classes following the rising
ground back from the river have left the Prestey man
sion to a sort of respectable desolaon.
Tie exercises Of the centennial have been admirably
managed There was a little much TO do in one day
and not quite enough for the second but otherwise All
that n committee OF arrangements could do was done
unexceptionay WELL Tne hall secured Is too large
imagine OF the public gatherings OF the town.
ana suiced though closely packed, through all the
sessions.
II the Centennial o. Chemistry has accomplished
in mi
TIE OF the laboratory together This the meet
inss OF the American Association for the Adyance
science, for nscrutabc reason had failed 10 ac-
compish its chemical subs Cton was its weakest point
in the whole circle OF sciences. Ani now that they
aro gathered to-ether must ad nit that they noble
body OF men; flply developed Intellectually and phys
ically; men who would justify the description OF Para.
celsius IN not being afraid burn soil their fingers
the nugget OF lay at the bottom OF the cruciDe
II they jJn heartily AMI unanimously. as there Is
fair reason to believe they will, in making "a
strong section of the Americtn Association,
they will add materially to the power and
influence Of tnat bo ~. wnile advancing their own in
erest, as chemists and the spread OF their science more
than would have .en possible by any other means.
You will have bad by telegraph many Of the details Of
the ex ,rcises and will weary with their repetition.
except to cye brief OF OF tho addresses
| that may not have otherwise reached YOU.
RELICS OF PRIEsTLEY.
and a.terwari spent time in examining the relies
OF his busy lfe which have been brought together In
another building they constitute small museum
OF clrosities Uoon the walls hang series OF engraved
portraits his cOtcmpDrares IN literature theology,
politics. and science one OF the Doctor himself in his
earlier years. and portrait in OIL taken after age hai
stamped its traces somewhat attened lips indi
| eating tho imperfect dentistry OF the time. The
| painting was honestly well skillfnly exc
| cutrd. and both color and ontlne are wen
I "a .IF
reason stated, Il meaning 'Ss, ana tells hothlnS
OF the determined wil ne lleAln, re.olY 70 shi tnr Ne
other world, thdt We look Tor IA Joseph friestIey
Tuc oiner relic, principally Ot h~ laboratory tnough
there ars ~ nix manuscripts, including an auioh-
oeraphy original essay Oh air, ahd % Iargc vol
unrs of his printed works, each ~ nelry 500 pages
de,pir OF giving any OF the odds AID ends OF APP
parltus used the discoverer OF oxygen There was
an irregular If vitnhed material OF maho@-
any color, looking Ike small draia pipe executed by
prentice hand at the pottery and OYerdone IN bak-
ing and glazing This with sinah furnace ana some
crueD!es completes the rng apparatus, and all bear
the marks Of service and h-l temperatures. metal
globe Is evidently constructed WIN view 10 CVui,
precision contents. but whether they were liquid or
Gaseous Is indicated. There l. great variety OF
glass Ietorts and tuDes OF wOhdeItui "a
considerable proportion oi tie apparatus Is not setD
! very primitive gavanc battery, an electropho-
rus, large Ltyden jar and several mag mag,
! il a prism mounted a stand macic-lanern and
slides three microscopes, small Telescope, which Is ut
small gobes an orrrry aud astrolabe But among all
these there is none that bears the
interest that attaches to the simple ana unpretendnR
pieces ~ m ss fubcs Gi1sd on iron handles gas re-
eeyer Isk open top and bottom, in winch the sep
arated constituents OF the atmosphere were reunited
! common and vaueess though they appear, are the
stcass telescope OF the most recent make, with 10
inch objective ami ali modern accessories worth more
than these gmenis that have history. Measured by
the Of results there can be- at all events no qes
ton them. No star that ever shOne since the
telescope invented had fraction OF Importance 10
science mankind compared with the discoveries OF
The question OF organizing the chemists OF America
into a separate sceathc body was brought under dis
cussion by Prof. Fraser. Unique stlonaby TINS design
was entertained by several OF those who took leading
part bringing about tue present centennial ceieOra-
on. Prof Fraser urged the formation OF such body,
aud gave for desiring Its independence Of all
| existing associations
| DISCUSSION on ORGANIZING A CHEMICAL AssoCIA-
TON.
Prof j. Lawrence Smith obtained the floor and argued
against the notion recited the experience Of chem
lists in countries The Chemical Society OF London
is fortunate respect to locality Within a small radius
there is there very large number OF chemists, and
among them several who eminent in research.
Everything favOrs that Association yet Its strength IL
| attended. The members will not bring before that
society their original poy papers the 'noy Bs 'S
ISOLATION for the Advancement Of Science:
fortunate in locality and in great center OF scientific
inquiry has, friend writes to Prof smith more officers
than unofficial members. Papers are reserved from IL.
IL they OF value, for the Academy and latery Tor
the French Association. In the case OF the Berlla
counted on elsewhere The pharmaceutsts OF that city
ar better educated than those OF other countries are
Of hgher class OF intellect and bring their thoughts
and to bear on novel subjects and not the
mere routine their profession. Iney form large
nroporton the society Suppose, however, we organ
tie such q body here Where shall we place itf III at
Hosop then NewYork and Philadelphia viii regard it
An affair OF the Hub. II at New York, Bostonians and
Phlladelphians will neglectit. Wherever you station IT,
| IL will become q local concern. The scheme Is not
| practlca. - -. .,.,, , -,
had not understood that the scheme involved adherence
TO one locality He had supposed that the new Chemi