Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-26


| S~NN-3 ~ the various admins
A4M s:s:;:;..: !: : !: re 6:
| vim hr,S purely scientific bu-
| ~ EMN\ reaus, have, usually
| @-a-A been wise enough to
select men for their
I distinguished and peculiar fitness for the
places to be filled, and not because of their
political services. The result is that many
of the most eminent specialists in the var
| ious branches of science have been induced
to come to Washington. and the capital of
the nation has thus become scientific CEN
| ter. The Smithsonian Institution being To-
! Gated here has. likewise, contributed to this
result.
| What has he done?" is the question ask
ed when a new member is proposed to the
| Cosmos Club. He must have written a
book or a monograph, made a discovery, in
vented something, led an exploring expedi-
| tion gone around the world, observed a
transit, compiled a dictionary, named a
| fauna, classified bug, scaled a mountain.
| irrigated a desert, investigated the geology
| Of a region, conceived a new style in art,
made a new chemical analysis, exploded a
popular error, founded a university, es-
| tablished bureau, organized an association
| for the advancement of science, or in some
way contributed to mans knowledge Of the
great cosmos-the beautiful system Of the
external universe.
| Not only does the club contain among its
members many of the most distinguished
men of science, but 1t has received as
guests nearly every man of science in the
| United States and some CT the distinguished
philosophers and scientists os other lands.
Herbert Spencer, the last time he visited
| the United States, was put up at the Cos
| mos, and the members found him a genial
interrogator concerning American ideas and
ways. The great physicians of Europe and
South America who visited Washington at
the last session of the international con-
! gress of physicians were the clubs guests,
and so were many Of the delegates to the
pan-American congress. One of it's latest
distinguished foreign visitors was the jap
anese scholar. Kinza Ringe NJ. Hirai
Origin of the Club.
The Cosmos was founded in the year 1878
for the advancement o. it's members in
science. literature and art, their mutual i'm
| QUESTION and maintenance of a library, and
the collection and care of materials and ap-
planes relating to the above objects"
The distinguished naturalist, Spencer F.
Baird, was one of the founders and the
clubs second president. Prof. Baird was
| secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton, but his great achievement was the de-
velopment of the United States commission
of fish and fisheries, the practical benefits
of which to the people of the United States
cannot be estimated Prof. Baird's pub
iished works include THE Mammals of
North America" and THE History of North
American Birds"
The first president of the club and one
Of Its most active fcurders was Maj. John
Wesley Powell, whose gallant exploration of
the Colorado canon, in the year 1868 ex-
| cited SO much pubic interest, and later led
! to The establishment by Congress of a geo.
graphical and geological survey of the Col
orado river and its tributaries. Since 1881
Maj. Powell has been the active and en-
terprisrg director of the United States geo.
logical survey, and has had charge of the
bureau of ethnology in the Smithsonian In
stitLtfon. Among his special works are
Report on the Land of the Arid Regions
of the United States" and Introduction to
the Study OF Indian Languages. With
Words, Phrases and Sentences to Be Col
lected."
Dr. James Clarke " cling president of
the Columbian University Washington was
| another of the original members OF the club.
and its third president Few men in this
country have performed more important
service to letters, in so many and varied ca
pacities, in law, journalism, belles-lettres,
art, philosophy and history. He was for
many years editor of the National Intelli-
| gencer; then became a professor at Prince
/ ton; held a position in the Court of Claims;
| is president of the board of trustees of the
Corcoran Art Gallery; regent of the
| Smithsonian Institution, and, as president
of the Columbian University he has built
up one of the most important seats OF learn
! ing in the United States. Though now ad-
! vanced in years, he has all the energy and
enterprise of middle life.
An Astronomical Founder
Another splendid star in this galaxy of
great men is Prof William Hardness, U. S.
N. the astronomer. who was one of the
founders Of the club. and it's seventh pres
ident. He graduated in medicine, and serv-
ed as a surgeon in the army. During q
cruise on the Monadnock he made imDor-
tant observations in terrestrial magnetism
in South America. Since 1865 he has been
attached to the naval observatory. He was
executive officer of the transit Of Venus ex-
petition In 1871, and in a voyage around the
world made many important astronomical
discoveries and observa tons. He is a
Scotchman, and one of the most genial of
| old bachelors. He lives in the club house
and takes the deepest interest in everything
pertaining to the club.
Another habitue of the Cosmos and
prince of club men, Is DIR. Robert Fletcher
the eighth president of the club. DR..
Fletcher is probably the most accomplished
photographer in the literature of surgery
and medicine in this country. He is the
principal assistant in the library of the sur
SeOn SeneTdl OulCc the nneSl medical Ii
brary in the world. DR.. Fletcher is an En-
glishman. courtly, debonair and with
mind free from bigotry and stored with
learning and anecdote.
Col. Garrick Mallory, the distinguished
ethnologist, is a genial and witty cosmopo-
! lite, and was the clubs fourth president.
Some of his important works are Intro
duction to the Study of Sign Language
Among the North American Indians, as IL
| Illustrating the Gesture and Speech Of Man
kind and photographs of the North Amer
lean Indians"
Edward Miner Gallaudet was the climbs
| fifth president. DR.. Gallaudet organized the
| Columbia Institution for the Deaf. Dumh
and Blind, and aided In establishing The
| National Deaf Mute College, of which he Is
/ president.
! DIR. John Shaw Billings United Statas
! army, who has twice been chosen presi-
| dent, is the foremost authority In this conn
| try in municipal hygiene and medical ut-
! erature. His greatest works are The Hv-
| giene of the United States Army" "Mor-
J tally and Vital Statistics of the Unite.
! States" Index Catalogue of the I,ihrarv
| of the Surgeon Generals Office" and his
| Medical Dictionary" recently completed
Some Others Who Have Been Pre.,-
| dents.
| DR.. Henry Crecy Yarrow, eleventh pres,-
! dent of the club, Is a surgeon and natural
/ list, and is authority on snakes, whether
! in five ia in ,ho