Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-09-01
The American Association


vancement Of Science" commenced Us order OF
exercises on the 18th inst, and has held IT, vari-
Gus sessions for eight days, occupying the court
house and new opera building In this city, holding
simultaneously much Of the time, three sessions.
Section A, having the department OF mathemat-
les and physics section u. geology and biology
while sub-sections on microscopy, entomology and
chemistry have also held many discussions.
Among the papers presented that would have pop |
uar interest was one by Professor Bcal, on car
nycrous plants This Is new term which has |
lately been applied to plants that catch insects by
various contriyanccs. In 1868, Mr. Ellis discov-
cred that the Venus fly trap Of North Carolina |
catches insects by a peculiar construction Of the
tins Of lis leaves some like a steel trap. Numor-
Gus experiments have satisfied most botanists that |
dies are not only caught but digested 10y iiuid
poured out by the plant and the materials absorbed |
into the Tissues Of the plant North America has
eight species Of pitcher plants, the leaves Of
which catch insects They have still hairs inside,
pointing downward, which prevent the escape Of |
most insects Some have a sweet secretion below |
the opening at the top on the outside. This grows
swceter aud more abundant, until It comes to the |
opening TO cntcc foolish flies to the fatal pit whence
uo 1y ever returns. Catesby some years ago, |
to escape from frogs aud other animals But 1t is |
not so, tho plants need them and diges, them for |
their benefit
Another paper Of genera, interest was upon |
the use Of locu-ts for food by Prof Riley, showing |
that they were always counted as good from the |
time Of John the Baptist" until the present
time To be fully relished they should like oys- |
ters be cooked whole Could the natural disgust
iot them be overcome, they would probably fur
nish more food than they would destroy. It
seems doubtful whether all will speedily adopt
the plan Of Prof Riley The potato bug WIS also
fully discussed, but the conclusion was that he
had done his worst, and there was now no special
cause Of alarm on hisaccount
The subject which has been discussed more
than any other and which seems 10 elicit more
interest, is that popularity known as Dawinism
The association Is very largely composed " very
positive advocates Of this theory, while Dr. Daw-
son. Of Montreal, one Of the best reasoncrs, and
acknowledged by all TO be a man Of superior abil-
ity, Is as decidedly opposed to H. lie is president
Of McGill College, and by most scientific men T.
looked upon as having no superior in general
knowledge Of science, hut is especially strong as
geoogist lie has recently published a paper
critcisug the conclusions reached by evolution
lists which ia considered almost unansworabc
nr J. /. LeConte, Of Philadelphia, a noted entoin-
ologist in his annual address surprised many Of
his listeners by very beautiful tribute to the
| Christian religion His French name. foreign
/ face aud scientific bearing had led To the SUPPOSE
ton that very hkely he was an nfdel, or at any
rate very far FROM being a Christian The addrcss
was finely written, and should have been listened
to by q crowded house. In reviewing what had
been written and spoken in regard to the conflict
Of religion and science, the speaker remarked that
some centuries ago tleoogians were greatly dis
gusted at the announcement that the sun and not
the earth was the centre Of the planetary system;
also profound dissatisfaction was shown at the
discovered traces Of organic life Of very ancient
origin recently annoy ance has been experienced
because human romans have been found where
they ought not to have been still more recently
! apprehension has been felt that man might yet be
found to have originated from some inferior ami
NAL Yet all these facts, Except the last which is
still but an opinion have been accepted and spir-
itua truth still remains uncouded and undimiu-
ished New interpretations OF Scripture have been
sought and found without difficulty These much
feared facts have but given additional and more
browning force 10 religious instruction Thus the
influence Of science on religion has been salu,arv
guessos have given place To confirmed and posi-
tive knowledge There are now comparatively
iew who fight for victory rather than truth. The
deceptive spirit of Nolt'dre, who disputed the or
sanic nature of fossil shells because their
renee ON mountains would be used as proof Of a
Noahcian universal deluge is disappearing, and
candid honest investigation is taking it, place
Delay will ensue before truth will be fully estab-
lished but by the establishment of scientific truth,
spiritual light Will be freed from the incrnstaton
with which it is obscured by partial knowledge
ana wall then show In pristine beauty. Tho
speaker also remarked That by extended culture
we may hope that the grosscr supertitons and
eorrupuons OF oriental nations, which have aecum-
uated duiihg the ages, VIII be dispellcd, and
the hndoo and Persian viii recognize The pure
ire and elevated doctrine Of the sincere Christian.
ID TINS manner VIII be realized the hope OF the
philosopher thedream OF the poet the expectation
oithe ueolosah universal scicnceand universal
renson' cooperating hannoniously Tor the per-
iecuoh OF iuan ana the glory OF his creator
Inc citizens OF Detroit nave surely made an ef-
lori 10 please their visitors wednesday evening
'he petroit oHenuhc Association entertained the
moihuefs ~ an informal social manner highly en-
JoSvu uy '"ose present thursday evening OF last
"s"''u' reception AZ ''eli nome which, with Their
eA''iiSNo GROUNDS aShteraliy thfonsed' Tower
uo' nHsleS ana MS accomplished daughter enter
"''n,' 'io '''o'''uon' ana large number OF in
''.ru s"'sS' Ne ioi'o"lns evening