The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-22
A DAY WITH THE SAVANTS.
INTERESTING PAPERS READ BEFORE
THE SCIENCE ASSOCIATION

Mrs.. MeGse On the Experiment In Hsasn
stSrpieuiturs by the Oneids Community
ProG Bigeiow o. the Physical Hntsrae.
ssens between the Earth aaA Sun Aside
from Those Dee TO 0ravitatios.
WASHINGTON. Aug. Ala large number Of
papers. for tho most part OF Q technical charac.
tor. were to-day read before the several sec
tions OF the American Association for tho Ad.
vancement OF Science. A few. however were
OF popular interest A paper entitled An Ex-
pertinent in Human Stirpiculture" was read
before tho anthropoloeical section By Ito au.
thor. Anita Newcomb MCGEE.
Mrs. MCGEE said that It Is not generally
known that carefully planned and msthodi-
cally conducted experiment In human stirpi.
culture. probably tho most extensive and sys.
temntic Of modern times and civilized people.
was carried on during the years 1908 to 1879 In
central New York. The originator Of the OK
pertinent was . jealous but logical enthusiast.
the late John Humphrey Noyes Tho purpose
was the promotion Of sanctity. Tho place
and the means were tho Oneida Com
tho peculiar sect called Perfectionists.
which In 1s4s gathered disciples to
the number of eiehtv-ssven in Oneida. Here
tho community Of goods and also OF per.
son was practised-a system OF complex
marriage. in which the amative and propoga-
tive functions were separated. having been es-
tablshed. Until 1868 tho birth rate in tho
community was carefully limited. but at this
date. financial success being assured and tho
members having Increased to $50. the expert
mont In stirpiculturo was begun. Its object
was the increase OF sancity in succeeding gen.
erntions in order that sin disease. and finally
l. t.-L t-NA Al
lect, hereditary qualities. mutual attraction.
&C.. were secondarily considered.
The first principle OF this strniculture was
continued in.and-in breeding. with judicious
mixture OF foreign blood from time to time.
lis second principle was the careful s selection
Of Fr1m is sS the ea6 bssa
hvo died at birth from unforeseen ,auses. de-
pending on the mothers aud e one chiId was &C.
the best Of care being given the children. whom
Noves's plans. The spirit OF monoRamy. ruth
lessly kept in check before. became so strong
ss
isS9, fke di:son1ion q the Gne,d. Go% pI
S SSssi Hs ded in II: snd had retired from
since nc ' died. j.. The oihe,s, now aged II 70 81
years, are n the whol. somewhat above tho
Hhs seo ensasn "ra cm
from the in,ellectna!, Noye e, family: l. is
boys ten are In business as clerks. foremsn.
&c. one Is musician 81 reputs: tive are stu.
ds1 o
81 eee and ono is student u tho kindsrgsr-
But" Mrs. McGes said in conclusion. The
main object q tho ex pertinent has not yet been
niece both Noyese.. OF The rsst hut iew sre
would. .hsrsfors, s.em to show II q While the
rae could doubtless no improved By more at |
,snon to when
Before tho .mnthr NAUTICAL and astronomical
and explained a. new scientIie, insiInment
called the aurora-inclinometre. Prof Dieelow
lem Of tho nhysical intersciions between the
earth and the sun. asii. from those due - |
n now ed " e
found that the same Law, which underliss the
surSss 2, =. so1ons xsish are sssS 4 tss
aurora. and f is confined to narrow belt in each
be nisphers If the sun.
rro siglo% ha recently iseoye ere shs
ation OF tho magnetic needle all over the Garth
In perlodi. motions. 1t seams that tho sun.
light IL also q magnetic field. and that the
magnetiztd earth rotates in it, lust like the
OF O dynamo BY a sort Of magnetic
Tefractton the RAYS 81 force enter the dark side
,f the earth In peculiar curves. pass through 1t
In straight lines and emerge in similar curves
IN the sunny side OF tho Carth. turn
nC all the needles in y corresponding way.
Now the aurora marks tho pathways BY which
hese 'orces enter and leave the earth. or the
nod flcatIons that arc produced BY them. or
he ordinary magnetic field surrounding the
,arth. due to Its permanent magnetism. and 1t
therefore, becomes essential to study carefully
he data that they can give. Much study has
)een given e. the aurora. hut not along this
iue. for which also Prof. RiRelow has given
he theory. Those three subjects. the corona.
he aurora ami terrestrial! magnetism. 'Orm
me grand scheme and depend upon one low,
he inverse Of Newton's law Of gravitation.
To test he aurora n new instrument has
,een planned ~ Prof. Biselow. II was con:
by the uniteh states Coast and
model Of beauty and efficiency. 1t will be sent
o Alaska this autumn. where the aurora IL
een in the best conditions.