Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-28
MODERN MINERALS.
The Woman's Anthropological So
ciety and Its DOings.
PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS.
Women who Relieve That tho Proper
study for Mankind 10 Man-How the
Society Was Orga"Izcd-Its Present
Members and Officers.

NJ. ogony? o, thou, too, mortal man! What
"a Us philanthropy? o. world which was
~ and is. What is cosmogony?
&a.f~ Thus Lord Byron asked impressively
the meaning of trio of unsteady long sounding
words. and bright woman well known in the
world of literature and art inquired, when told
OF her election to membership in the scientific
body We are sketching, 20, heaven and earth!
what is anthropology?' in answer. then, an
thrOpology is the doctrine OF the structure Of
the human Lody; the natural history of the
human species. The science of man. considered
in his entire nature as composed of body and
soul, and as subject to various notifications
from sex, temperament, race, civlIiza-
ton, &c. And an anthrOpologist $ one who Is
verSed In the tremendous science and physical
history OF man or the human body. The word
IL derived from the Greek words that mean to
speak discourse on man. Something of the
immensely and scope Of the subject tackled
may be had from the foregoing definitions
The NOmans Anthropological Society of Amer
lea Is composed OF ladies who may be called.
without poetic license, the brightest jewels in
the shining coronal OF brainy women who grace
the capital city. They women who are
models of the best qualities that pertain to
their sex, and they combine dignity and learn
ing. the domestic and social accomplishments
In rare degree with their active pursuit Of
the most erudite branch of science for the sake
OF knowledSe.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SOCIETY.
1t was in June, 1885, that ten women of this
city met to form scientific society. Mrs.
lilly Z. Stevenson. whose late husband was
then in the geological survey, proposed that
the society be a woman's ARCHAEOLOGICAL
society. and Mrs. Stevenson, who was
versed in the details of scientific work. was
made its first president There were pessimistic
doubters who discouraged the members, be-
heyIng they could make no progress in the
realm OF scientific research by reason of
their sex But the infant society
braved tine difficulties of its rudimentary
state and has managed its business,
held its regular meetings and listened
10 the papers OF its members for five seasons
Its fame Is a national one, as its name proclaims
Its field to be. and today It is one OF the credit
able institutions of the city.
GOOD FIELD.
Washington is peculiarly fertile in material
for a woman's society of this character, as
there are a large number of women in private
life here who have sojourned IN many foreign
lands with their husbands when they were upon
business either OF a public or private
tunitles OF taking notes for papers relating to
tins interesting subject. Mrs. Stevenson, who
Is now IN the ives. pursuing her favorite stud
les among the Indian tribes. was the founder
oAAI NstS pitoIOtilI OF the society anu con-
tlnued ut its head for three and
half years. Miss Sarah A. Scull.
VINO was then teacher OF history in Mrs
Somers' school, was the first corresponding
secretary The other officers OF that period
were Mrs. Emma Louise Hitchcock recording
secretary. and Mrs. Mary Parke Foster. treas,
urer; The constitution was drafted and adopted
at the trst meeting of the society, which
then adjourned until November, and the
by bylaws were adopted in January, 1886.
NnNr
amended at the first annual meeting, held
January 80, 1886. The object of the society has
been declared to be the opening to women OF
new fields for systematic investigation" and
Ito promote anthropology by encouraging its
study and facilitating the interchange of
thought among those interested in anthropo-
logic research, and by arranging and preserv-
ing Systematically all information relating to
IT, and also by holding meetings regularly for
It's Jttsc csslon."
THE MEETINGS.
These meetings are held on Saturday after
Moons of Teach alternate week from November un-
I'll May inclusive. They are devoted primarily to
the presentation and discussion of original scien-
tlfc communications, and all business except
elections, Is transacted in detail at meetings OF
the board or III committee before being sub
united to the general society. The meetings
are held IN the reception rooms OF
the Columbian University. Besides the regu-
lar meetings special meetings are held and an
annual meeting IN January for the election OF
officers and the reading of officers reports.
An annual reception is also given. at which the
retiring president Is expected to deliver an adj
dress. These special meetings. held at the
residences OF the members, are the only oc-
casIOns upon which refreshments are permitted
b. the code. Gushing 5 manual governs all the
debates.
ADMINISTERING THE soCIETY's AFFAIRS
The officers consist of a president, two vice
presidents, recording and corresponding secre-
taries, treasurer and six directors. the other
tors the board of directors. The
annual dues for active membership are
80, paid IN advance. The financial
affairs of the society are conducted with BUSH
ness tact and foresight. Before any member
elect shall be considered d member de lure
sine must pay the dues and sign the constitu
lloi. and no person IN arrears for dues shall be
entitled to vote at the annual meeting.
SUBJECTS DISCUSSED.
Many themes have been discussed by the
society. In the presidential addresses of Mrs.
Stevenson the subjects discussed were 1.-The
Religious Life of the Zuni Child and "The
Thirteen Medicine Orders of the Zuni
Other contributions BY Mrs. Stevenson
are The MokI Indian Snake Dance"
mission Indians The Sand Paintings of the
Navaios and "Zuni and the Zunians !" Miss
Alice c. Fletcher, the present president of the
society, has read papers upon Omaha Child
Life The Supernatural Among the
Omaha Tribe of Indians" winter
Life Among the Winnebago In
dians," The Music of the Omaha and
Ionka Indians" Other communications are
Legends and Historical Sketches of the
lroluOls Indians by Mrs. Laura NJ Seho-
telJ; "reminiscences OF Life Among the
lrOquols Indians Ill the Province of
CIetec.' by the late Mrs. Erminie A. Smith
o. Jersey city; The Sioux Indians" by Miss
Mary y Collins OF Dakota; Observations Upon
the Japanese by MIRA Melissa A. Bryan: The
HaWaIi,ns, by Mrs. Carter; Customs aud
Manners Of Scotch Highland, r. Mrs. Ianders;
Russia, by Mrs. Louise L. hunt; "korea."
BY Mss Scldmore; fluctuations of Man." Mrs
ii. l. Bartlett; House building in Alaska"
Mrs +. +. Thomas: Ceramic Art Of
tine Pacific Coast" Mrs. VI. G. Bancroft
OF San Francisco; Mrs. Mary r Brown
OF New York sent paper
upon Chinese Music;" an account of x,ripus
methods Of Lighting and Warming was pre-
seEied by Mrs CoTneiia Z Mcdonald; Mrs.
Foster contributed paper upon The Ancient
Rulns OF Mexlco; Mrs. Mary U. Clarke gave
'-SOme Negro song GanIes,' Mrs. McGee gave an
account OF the Evolution OF a [ OnmunIty:" MR.
Clara Bliss Kinds contributed papers ON ..ChIld
Growth and How to Study ChlIdren:' Mrs
d. T. James Of Brooklyn sent paper entitled
Food IN Its Relations to Child Growth Mrs
Emma Hammond read one on ..Comparatlye
Human Growth and Mrs. Anna Howes Barn.
gave an article on The Physical History
of College Women" The majority of these
papers represent the result OF personal OBJ