New-York tribune., 1878-11-09

rt;onal Academy Of Sciences closed yester-
- four days meeting at Columbia Colege
Ss,aeI Jay Professor Stephen Alexander OF frlnce-
~ 7 spoke on solar eclpses and other topics
a"asossor Davidson gave some results OF astronomi
FIOie' FIvi, in the Serras, and Professor Alpheus
rvatt of Boston, gave an account Vi NO go.
hS"'" -. dete,rnine heredty in disease. During
nen'' 's..;ons of the Academy more than score OF
INC Loyo been read, several of which have en-
pSpo'S rosuIts of much value The Academy ad-
VVui'1 , 20 meet at Washington in April next.
.o,nr,uC1ANS AND THEIR ADDRESSES.
a.. no, Of the meetings of the Academy of
1os save on the last day, one could get an excel
1. tSea Of the personnel of its members Here was
~ ,, Of striking faces and forms and stranger
e.a ,rovl. stained and wellwon NewZealander OF
.as H| entering the little chapel of Columbia. could
20 he IMPRESSED by the appearance OF the assem-
~, T1ough be would not see more than two-score
80 ,rosont vet he would recognize that here was inc
Ind N furnish forth large audience. Small need 10
,o, him the names Of those before him. Their races
rd he their best introduction, for study and thought
nd high endeavOr have left traces OF their
sence m every feature. He could pick Out-ths dis
eliminating stranger-almOst at glance the marine
atcans In this gathering for the study OF pure math
smatcs is a great refner OF the features. IL gives
certain contraction to the keen eyes, sensluveness TO
e lp aud nOstr appearance Of aertness and force
impressed by the many men here whose years ana
tbought alike make them venerable If he were re-
cent graduate OF NewZealand Oxford, he would recoE
ME men whose textbooks made inrOads ON many col
lece hours but gave him strength for close reasoning
and accurate thought Here, too, he would see those
who by grace style and depth insight have made tue
story the sciences tell attractive and absorbing as
romance And here he would the men OF the younger
Ceueraton-hcrs all this learning and sharers in TINS
enthusiasm for study for its sake-who are even
now trying measure the heat OF the stars TO develop
the unsuspected forces OF electricity to wrest rom Ma
ture the secrets long aud jealousy guarded Perhaps
the most conspicuous figure would be the vcepresident
"a man of ample figure with smooth, dOme-shaped
brow brilliantly clear complexion, full brown beard
large welEcut features, and stately bearing AS the
speakers come forward in all would be noted "a SIM
picity OF style and manner, directness in thought
which said plainly as though each uttered these
words: "This Is my speciality; I know l have some
thing TO tell YOU something have dug out myself; you
may be sure shall speak the point with no waste OF
words minutes"
Much work was crowded the five sessions OF this
meeting. twenty-five papers and addresses were read
embracing a VIDE variety OF subjects Although several
important opics-suca as Western explorations and the
Eectrc lght-were not considered, still many valuable
results OF original research were presented or the
eciaiss who gave reports OF work OF great interest
10 scientific may be named DR.. Henry Draper, VINO
described his experiments in photographng the corona
Of Columbia, who explained how he had secured
,uantitatve analysis OF white lght-experiments which
Professor Perce Of the Coast Survey characterized as
aew departure in physics of the utmost value and in
terests; General Abbott who exhibited proofs OF bis
skill in taking photographs Of submarine torpedo ex
plosons and described the ingenious methods by which
he gained success and Professor George Davidson who
aeeared that American manufacturers Of instru-
nents Of precision were far more sklful work
than those OF Europe. Nor ought one to neglect
mentioning addresses OF the venerable Professor
stephen Alexander, OF Princeton. N j. on topics con-
bected with astronomy and mathematics Though very
DID, he seems to have lost Of the enthusiasm Of
youth and the singular felicity Of his choice OF Words
Especially when speaking of his work in astronomy. n-
.ured him marked attention. New views and sugges-
uons were brought out in the discussions. the most
ready and active speaker being Professor Peirce who
always seemed to be lying in wait fer weak point In
demonstration argument
PROFESSOR ALEXANDER ON SOLAR ECLIPsEs.
The last days OF the Academy opened yes
Ierday by Professor stephen Alexander of Princeton,
who spoke "some Notes OF the Total Solar Eclipse Of
1880" In brief and interesting review Of hs asro-
uomea labOrs he said that in early lfe alone and in
the face OF many difficulties, he observed the total
.c'ipses OF 1882 and 1884. He added:
You may Judge Of my surprise when, by the aid OF an
Incompatible telescope for It's szeOue or frduenhOfers
i saw two of blight, metilic-ookIng promincnces
which have since been so often observed The neXt
white clouds and wind such have this morning
Obscured much OF the eclipse very peculiar feature
that fifty miles away could be seen the sun shining
DShy Around us was a S nor d toe ee l
rum In the midst Of the solemn desoation and the
sOmbre bOtegTeen sky, there burst forth the notes OF
skyark-ODe Of the most impressive incidents ever
the most wonderful eclipse have ever seen was that
70 iowa. There had the SUMS disk been OBJ
scured than Mercury fared out WITH the greatest
brightness. The last total eclipse was much less re-
markable IN every respect than that OF 1863 The
eli nj
San Antonio, Texas Tne shadow crosses the track OF
readily IL passes near Belmont, Nevada,
over Salt Lake City, The eclipse will be total full hour
rests on Salt Lake, the viii be only quarter of
hour before setting dhCnen % no important results are
Vulcan The spectacle ON tins occasion Will be OF great
beauty should the day be hne
Professor George Davidson said, in discussing the pa
per that he had communicated TO the Coast Survey a
method OF searching for Vulcan which he proposed to
adopt on two high stations in the Sierras. Curiousy
enough mis- calculations autedaod by two days the an
nouncement of Leverer OF the probability of transit
total eclipse known as Bailey's beads an Observa-
tion OF eclpe,he found that the disck disappeared.
broken up inIO points beads oI light The phenomenon
Of the beads, he ought, was wholly atmospheric, and
not cOsmical This opinion confirmed by ObseTva-
ton in he sirrras There the outlines OF and
were clear and wonderfully sharp and distinct.
EXPERIMENTs IN HEREDIIY OF DISEASE.
Professor Alpheus Hyatt Custodian OF the Boston So
eiety of Natural History. made his
vesgaOn Of the Of herodty which had been taken
up by the Massachusetts, Board OF Health. He traced
the laws Of metamOrpboss in animals and showed the
difficulty OF establishing any definite law IN beredity.
"Thus" he said. 4" the doctrine OF evolution OF animals
you absolutely that one OF series de-
Tyed peculiarites from certain ancestor that was
the previous Of the sefes He concluded TO CORE
late these observations with the heredy Of disease.
The Massachusetts Board OF Health" he said has
sisted In this work and tits important to get as many
statistics possible TO deduce laws the subject The
idea s 20 direct and indirect lines ali tbese per
sOuAl pecuariies large siZo OF peculiar shape OF
nd feuf Of at Il by