Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-21
THE REALM OF MIND.
oRANpEsT ACHIEVEMENT AND
GREATEST VICTORY OF SCIENCE.
rsrs, Day OF the Session Of the American
Association for che Advancement OF
ecicnce--pr. weliing's Welcome.
,sn.c,,, c0rrc.pouacnce Of tho Dlspa,ch.l

(OYrCtnOuSfUtNt
WASHINGTON. ID. c., August l9.-It is
ouite evident that the social feature is the
prominent one in this great annual gather
,nc of scientists. These men and women
have hearts as we'll as heads. and they
greet each other with warmth and cordi-
ality that have little in them Of cold SCI
entifc formnlity or Of materialistic apa-
thy. How they swarm about the rooms OF
fhe Columbian University and how they
talk and laugh, Here are old men, gray
and bald, with name and standing we'll
assured in the scientific world; Young
men with ambition and high endeavor
cleaning from specialized eyes and written
on expanded brows; elderly ladies'. VINO
have done some work" or have helped
another 10 do some, and younger ones, who
stand like the OK of the old legend, DC.
tween the field of work and the altar. ana
seem to announce themselves as ready
for either"
At 10 O'Clock this morning the. Law
Room" Of the University was comfortably
filed with scientists and the meeting was
called 10 order by the outgoing president,
Professor Goodall OF Cambridge. who in
PRODUCED the president-elect. Professor
Prescott. of Ann Arbor Mich. Two ad-
dresses of welcome were then given. one
by Hon. Edwin Willis. OF the Department
OF Agriculture. the other DIR. yelling, the
president of Columbian University.
SCIENTIFIC CENTRE
Both spoke we'll. DIR. Willis brought
ont the fact that Washington Is not only
favorite place for the meeting OF scientific
societies. nine of which have met or are 10
meet here during this month OF August, but
that il is itself q great scientific centre,
"instinct with science" full OF Iaborato-
rjes and the like, and having societies COW
ering all branches OF science ana nuinoer-
ing in oil moro than Thousand members.
In eloquent terms he welcomed the asso,
ciation to this most congeniai place OF
meeting. Dr. yelling made an excellent
address. bringing out especially tins
thought-that however great NAV De the
contributions of science to mans material
welfare. and however great its victories in
the world about Us. ITS granuest acmeve-
ments are IN the realm OF mind. L
GLORY" said he. " N all the transformations
science is working, but most of all III
those il is producing in the thoughts OF
nen-teaching them exactitude. training
them to logical perfection, and bringing
them TO clarity their concepts. hc
was glad 10 sit at the feet OF those
who could speak with authority but
who did speak with reverence ana
humility and who knew how 20 ask
questions of Nature and to get from her
answers that Injured to the welfare OF the
race. He welcomed them TO the Univer-
sitv. where ne was humbly trying to teach
what they had found out to be true.
PRESIDENT PRFscoTT's RESPONSE.
Professor Prescott. the president, made
q brief but fitting response. He stated
that the association had not met here
since 1854, but that much Of ITS real Work
had been done during oil that time IN
Washington. He feelIngly referred to
some of the older members. now dead.
that had lived and labored here. such as
Barhe. of the Coast Survey: Joseph Henry
and Professor Baird. both of the Smith
sonian He pleaded strongly for the value
tot country of scientific research. ana me
need that such research should be aided
not only IN the colleges but by the Gov
eminent and 10y private munlficence.
THE SECTIONS ASSEMBLE.
After some routine business the general
meeting adjourned and the sections from
A TO |, inclusive, assembled III their seve-
raj rooms. "A" is mathematics and as
tronomy. "B" is physics. &c" IS chemls-
try. III T" is anthropology. &C.. DC. These
severally proceeded 10 organize and -
elect certain committees, ana then al
journed till the afternoon.
In the afternoon each of the sections had
a formal address from the vice-president
in charge Of II on some topic appropriate
to its subiect-mattcr. -Four of these were
delivered Mt $50 2. VI. IN ms many different
rooms, of course. aud tour Others at I. Nj.
THE LUMINIFEEoUs ETHER.
The address in physics was by Professor
Eipher. of st. Louis. and his theme was
1.-The Lumlniferous Ether that vast I'M
known something that fills all space.
heard this with much pleasure, AMI |
had to take bits only of the other adj
dresses. as one cannot be UBIQUITOUS,
however much he would like to be so on
such occasions. They were generally quite
technical and addressed to the inner cir
Gle" Of specialists III the particular sub
iects. Tonight we have the address be-
fore the whole association by the retiring
president, the leading feature OF the ses-
sion, and after that a reception by the
Washington Board If Trade in the parlors
Of the Arlington Hotel.
WORK IN EARNEST.
Tomorrow work begins in earnest. The
sections break up again and papers are
read in each. About 1875 of these papers
. have been reported, and If they pass the
ordeals of the Council and the Sectional
Committee they are read. discussed. ana
printed. Some promise to be OF great IN
terest.
There have been registered nearly 900
members as now present and 0uly pro-
yided with their numbered badges; Others
are constantly coming in.
The local committees have made I'D
mirable arrangements providing most
delightful reporters room among other
good things and they promise, IN the way
Of excursions. receptions, and the ike,
much more for the future. extending far
into the coming week.
INTEREST IN HE ALLIANCE.