The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-09-02
MEN OF SCIENCE IN COUNCIL
How the American Association Is Being
Entertained in 0ntario's Capital.
A Noted Gathering Of Biologists, Chemists,
Physicists and biologists President
Mendenhall and Other Indianians.


correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal
TORONTO, Ont, Aug. 30.-The American
Association for the Advancement of Science
Is at last holding a session.. IN Toronto.
Many, but Intellectual, have been the en-
deavors of Ontario's capital and pride to
capture the meeting. Persistence, as in
many another affair of the heart, has won
the day. AS President MendenhaH said in
his response to greetings and welcomes
that opened the meeting, 1.-The association
has been carrying on a sort of Irritation
with Toronto for some time" This is a
city containing much to remind us of the
States, yet more than enough to show us
that we are in a foreign country. The
Queens Hotel. the Queens Park, the Queens
University and a thousand other things of
like character remind us that we are in
a country which confesses allegiance
-nominally. at least = to q foreign
and distant ruler; the dress of
the people. their speech, with its
peculiar accent, and their sither'' and
""nither" emphasize and reiterate the fact:
1t is true, too. the uniform pOliteness of
every one, from the lowest TO the highest,
the cheerful temper, the moderate pace are
a refreshing relief. The street-cars are
commercially brisk in their movements,
but come to a dead stop to let the middle
aged gentleman get on or oil. The loyalty
of the average Canadian is of a demonstra-
tive kind, every allusi0n to the Queen al
ways meeting with great applause; as Isthe
case in Germany with the 'h9ch auf' to
the Emperor. When Alderman DOdds. In a
neat little speech following the retiring
presidents address in the beautiful HOrti-
cultural pavilion, brought III the catch,
rule Britannia, rule the wave" he was
chaaroH fo tho aahn. 1iEawicq when no aN-
claimed. I'VE are separated by some four
thousand miles from the Queen, our En-
press, yet we are as full of loyalty as though
we basked under the sunshine of her
could not help but feel. Verify he doth
protest too much" The welcome to the
association was a royal one, and the intro
ductory sp~eech-making by the new officers
of the association, as well as the represent
atives of Toronto. were exceptionally brill
ant.
Auspicious as has been the opening of the
tbifty-eighth nnu session of the asso-
citation, cordial as has been its reception,
the provisions for it's sessions leave much to
be desired. The University buildings, In
which these take place, are at the extreme
north of the city, and at least a mile and a
bali from the principal hotels. Ihe larger
building In which most of the sections meet
is rambling, some of the rooms, when dis
covered, being Objectionable as to size or
arrangement. The chemists meet in a
building which is at least five minutes
walk from the other sections. The biologists
seem to have set up a ounte attraction,
and on Thursday adjourned their section
that they might participate In the meeting
of the American Geological Society, which
took place in the Normal School Hall, at
least twenty-five minutes distant from the
main body of workers. All this has greatly
detracted from the interest in the sections
on the part of that large body of members
whose tastes are not rigidly specialized,
and who fit from room to room through
ont the day, listening to the papers in the
various departments that attract them by
the title or by the reputation of the au-
thor. Whatever may be the external at
fractions by way of excursions, Indian
apolis can, undoubtedly, handle a large
body of visitors, whose species and pur-
poses are similar to those of the A. A. A. s..
in a name much more to the profit and
satisfaction of the members.
On the occasion of the two public
receptions thus far given the horticultural
gardens and pavilion IN the eastern quarter
were tastefully and brilliantly decorated
with Chinese lanterns, the union jack and
the stars and stripes. Upon the pillars Of
the gallery, in the pavilion, were shields
bearing the names of Bacon, Darwin,
place. Hooker, Asa Gray, Dalton and Lub-
bock-a brilliant constellation, which
fhe field IN Of every syyientif Quarter progress 81
AS furnishing opportunities for social
greeting and intercourse these receptions
were dismal failures. Many of the men,
beers came in full dress suits to find them
selves admired at a distance. Whether the
society here is too timid or too exclusive
for such an indiscriminate affair as a pub
lie reception. or whether there is any soci-
ETY. here at all. still remains undetermined.
The present session of the association is
honored by the presence of an unusually
large number of the scientists of the coun-
try who have achieved national reputa-
ton. Among these one naturally hrst
mentions the able and distinguished presi-
dent of the thlrty-eighth annual meeting,
Il. c. Mendenhall. the newly-appointed d.
rector of the United States Coast and &C.
odetic Survey. So recently is he from Indi-
ana that he is still claimed as the president
of Rose Polytechnic Institute, a title which
transfer to another. Fertile in expedients,
wise and persistent in action, ready in wit,
genial in manner. he instantly commands
the respect : and admiration of
graphical notices. illustrated by those
newspaper denominations called plates,
without q particle of resemblance to any
thing above the earth, on the earth or
papers and heralded the coming of the
association. Retiring President Powell,
being u~navoidably absent On government
business connected with the irrigation of
our western wastes, found it necessary to
send his presidential address TO be read by
another. President Mendenhall, in pre-
senting Mr.. PowelPs excuses, took occasion
to say that he was particularly sorry that
the latter could not be present to live down.
as others were trying to do, some of the
false impressions that had been scattered
abroad in Toronto before the assembling
of the association. A prophecy of the
ability and integrity with which Mr.. Men,
denhall will conduct the affairs of his pres
emit position may be readily made from the
manner IN which he executed q previous
trust under the United States Signal
Service: 1t had long been a moOted ques-
ton whether observations of the electric
conditions of the atmosphere would be
of service in effecting more accu-
rate weather predictions. To investigate
this matter. a department was established,
with Mr.. Mendenhall as chief. Instead of
dawdling along. as many would have done,
and making his position practically per-
petual. he prosecuted his work with vigor
and despatch; the results of which will
presently be available in the form of q
government report. AS soon as he had sat
isted himself that the electric conditions
of the atmosphere are of too local a charac-
ter to be of service to the chief signal Off
Ger. he closed up the affairs of his depart
ment, and retired from his position and its
emoluments-an excellent example of true
ciyil-service reform. The people may con-
fidently expect an efficient and economical
administration of the affairs of his office.
as a more competent organizer. a better
Judge of men, and a more complete master
of detail. is seldom found. Neither will the
ouestions which the progress of science Is