Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-19

at the Columbian University Building.
The star-eyed goddess Of science must have
looked down with much complacency upon the
Columbian University building this morning
That structure was filled with scientists enough
to equip half hundred great universities with
full scientific staffs. 1t was the day of the first
general session Of the fortieth meeting Of the
American Association for the Advancement Of
Science. All the rooms and lecture halls in the
building were given up to some uses in connec-
tion with the meeting. The wall in the main
hall was covered with bulletins and announce
ments concerning various gatherings.
In addition to those already registered over
one hundred members of the American Associa-
tion for the Advancement of Science registered
before 10 O'Clock this morning. The throng in
the room where those in charge of the registra-
tion are located was at times 80 great that it
was difficult to move about. There was a con-
slant hum of conversation and hearty greetings
exchanged as men who had not seen each other
probably since the last annual meeting met face
to face. Before the first general meeting Of
the association convened the corridors leading
to the main hall where the meeting was held
were crowded with members who were enjoying
an impromptu social gathering. 1t was demon
strated then, If never before, that the average
scientist is social and laxative, and from the
peals of laughter that were heard it might be
inferred also that he is of a humorous turn.
NEW ARRIVALS.
Those who arrived on the early morning
trains, and after a hasty breakfast hurried to
the headquarters and edged their way around
the groups to the registration table. After
having their names recorded and silk badges
hoe rin fha
on the lapels of their coat, they were ready
either Tor a social conversation or for discus
sion OF somesof the intricate and abb
struse topics that come before the meet
ing. The new arrivals found that the
work had been pretty well mapped out by
the officers of the general association
and the officers of the sections. The finishing
touches upon the programs for the meetings Of
the sections were made today and printed pro-
grams were issued Of the papers that will be
read before each section tomorrow. Today's
work Is practically preliminary. But tomorrow
the real work begins, and each section will be
busily engaged in hearing read and discussing
the papers which have been prepared for this
meeting.
PREPARING THE PRoGRAMs.
The greatest care is exercised in the prepara-
ton Of the programs. Those who intend to
read papers before any of the sections are re-
quired to furnish the secretaries with abstracts
The abstracts are submitted to the council Of
the association and also passed upon by the
sectional committee. If the subject matter Of
the paper, as shown by the abstract, is consid-
cred to be worthy and appropriate to be read,
the title OF the paper is placed on the program.
Some l4O papers have been presented and it is
probable that large proportion will be read.
frequently the papers are discussed and it is
considered that the interchange of ideas thus
brought about is one of the important and
most valuable features Of the annual meetings.
THE GENERAL SESSION.
The first general session began a little after
10 o'clock in the law lecture room. The hall
WAS well filed, not with men of science only,
for there fair sprinkling Of women Of
science. A reading desk was placed on the
front Of the platform, and on the table beside
it was big bunch OF roses President Prescott,
ex-President Goodale, Assistant Secretary Will
Its, DR.. Jas. G. Yelling president Of Column
bian University; DIR. Geo. F. Barker, Prof. F.
W. Putnam, the permanent secretary; Prof. II.
w. Wiley, the general secretary; Mr.. Marcus
Baker, the secretary Of the local committee, and
others occupied seats on the platform. The
session, which lasted an hour and a half, was
consumed by the address of welcome and the
response to it, announcements made by the
secretaries and the brief consideration Of con-
stitutional amendments reported from the
council.
DR.. Goodale called the meeting to order and
introduced the president elect, Prof Albert b.
Prescott OF the University of Michigan. Prof.
Prescott. who is man past the meridian of life
but of vigorous frame with q kindly face hav-
ing healthy glow then stepped forward and
was received with applause.
Albert Benjamin Prescott was born in Hast
ings, N. Y, December II, 1882, in lineage being
the ninth generation from John Prescott Of
Standish, Lancashire, England, who came to
Boston in 1910 and from whom were descended
the historian Of this name and the commander
at Bunker Hill.
In preparatory education he made his way bv
the help of private tutors. He studied chem
istry and medicine in the University Of Michi-
gan in 1S61-64. After graduating in medicine
he entered into the medical service Of the
army as assistant surgeon OF United States vol
unteers, acting as surgeon in charge Of hospi-
tails and member OF board Of examination Tor
surgeons in Louisville, Ky. At the close of the
war, in 1865. he was appointed in the Univer-
sity of Michigan as assistant professor Of chem
istry and lecturer on organic chemistry. In
1s7oShe was appointed professor of organic and
applied chemistry.
Prof. Prescott's life has been identified with
the growth of laboratory methods of study in
this country. Laboratory studies are scarcely
older than the present generation, and are char
acteristic Of the present age. 1t Is their service
to make men work for themselves. They train
young men TO personal independence. The
hrst college laboratories were those OF chemis-
try. Now a dozen sciences are cultivated in
separate laboratories in all the active colleges
At the University Of Michigan the chemical
laboratory was founded in 1856, and Prof Pres
cott's time has been devoted to its development
for the past twenty-six years. One Of the
largest in extent, it is especially known for the
wide variety of chemical work which it carries
out, so that it is, in fact, an organization Of
some half dozen laboratories Of chemical arta
Its students are engaged, in its different de-
partments, in the analysis of all sorts Of mat
ters, both organic and inorganic, and in syn
thesis as welL The branch Of chemistry to
which DR.. Prescott has always devoted es-
neglected, discouraging to chemists generally.
that Of the analysis Of unclassited organic mat
ters. 1t is something in demand both for the
needs of common life and the necessities Of
organic research.
Prof. Prescotts first published contributions
in science appeared in London Journals in 1870.
Since then he has been frequent, though not