Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-07
A LOSS TO SCIENCE
DR.. G. Brown Goodies Death Causes a
Shock to the Community.
HIS LIFE And VALUABLE SERVICES
A Leading Spirit in tire Work Of
the Smithsonian Institution.
G r EAT IN RE S f AR C H

The scientific world, as well as a large
circle of friends and acquaintance. was
shocked this morning by the announce
ment of the death of one of It's recognized
leaders in nearly every branch of research,
DR.. Georg- Brown Goode, assistant secre-
tary of the Smithsonian Institution. DR..
Goode died yesterday evening. surrounded
by his family his wife. daughter and three
sons. at his beautiful home Lanier
Heights. Mount Pleasant.
Or. Goode had been seriously, i'll onl:
since last Thursday On that day he Wis
tied a specialist who had been treating
him for acute bronchial trouble. and he
caught additional cold, which later in the
evening developed into broncho-pneumonia
From that time DR.. Goode sank into an
unconscious condition and rapidly grew
worse until the end last evening. His con-
stitution was poorly prepared for such an
attack through the drain upon it caused by
excessive and unremitting work which he
had placed upon himself.
Since Prof. Lar gley. secretary OF the
Smithsonian II stitution, has been absent
in Europe DIR. Goode has been acting secre
tary. in oonnection with the various other
duties which he performed. DIR. Goode was
but fcrty-five years of age, and his asso-
ciates attribute his early death largely to
mind being SO constituted that he was IN
ceasingly at work, not even allowing HIM
self time to sleep, and seldom taking a va
cation during his busy life. Today being
the hftieJh anniversary of the first meeting
of the board of regents OF the Smithsonian
Institution, the board was to have held
meeting in celebration of the occasion. but
the unexpected demise Of DIR. Goode left no
one with authority to call the board to-
gether. Prof. Langley and Mr.. Winlock be-
ing now at sea, and expected TO arrive at
New York in Il few days.
An impromptU meeting of DR. GooGe'S
associates was held at the Smithsonian In
StItut:On this morning, when IL was de-
cided to hold a meeting of employees of the
Institution tomorrow morning. when suit
able resolutions will be adopted.
No death in this city could have caused
deeper gloom to be cast over that large
circle of scientists whose labors are CEN
tered at the Smithsonian Institution than
that of DIR. Goode, who had for many years
been regarded as the most prominent spirit
in all the work of the institution. and
where every one had become personally at
tached to him.
His Varied Attainments
DIR. Goode was everywhere given the
place as the foremost organizer of exhibits
in America, if not in the world. and his
talent for displaying great collections so
that they might be il structive to even the
uniearned observer. combined with his rare
and varied attachments as scientist, made
for him an unique career. 1t was DIR.
Goode who made general plan for the
Chicago exposition, which so commended
itself to the board of directors that it was
adopted with little alteration.
DIR. Goode was born in New Albany,
II d.. February is. 1851. AS boy he de-
yelOped fOndnesS for natural history. The
father of young Goode received the re-
ports of the Smi thsoiiian Institution reg
llariy and DR.. Goode frequently referred
to the reading of these documents as his
first incentive to lead the life that has
made him famous throughout the scientific
world He entered Wesleyan University.
Niddletown. Conn. where he graduated in
1870 During his college career he devoted
himself assid1ously to the study of natu-
raj history. to which his tastes inclined.
rather tran to classical studies. He took
an active part in assembling and arrang-
ing collections that eliminated in the mu
scum now preserved in the Orange Judd
Hall. Miss Judd. whom he after ward mar
red. Was daughter of the founder of the
museum bearing his name. While engaged
in this work he met Prof. Baird at East
port. Me, where he had gone in pursu-
ance of his work of making collections, and
Prof. Baird seeing the great ability dis
played by the young and enthusiastic scien-
tist became his friend, which friendship
continued until the death of Prof. Baird.
He Comes to the Smithsonian.
During 1S72-I3 DIR. Goode made his first
trip TO the West Indies and collected fish
which he exchanged for duplicate speci-
mems at the Smithsonian Institution In
the interest of Wesleyan University, both
institutions profiting by his work. In
1873 he Joined the institution permanently
and has since been in it's service becom-
ing assistant secretary in 1897.
Meanwhile he took an active part In
the preparation of the exhibit of the
Smithsonian Institution at the centennial
exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876. and
owing to the illness Of Professor Baird
the charge of that work deyolyed largely
on him during the continuance Of the fair
AT the END Of the exhibition the care Of
the collections that were then given to
the United States government was manly
assigned to him, and to him more than
any one else is due the present condition
of the National Museum.
An Authority on Fish.
His volunteer connection with the United
States fish commission meanwhile con-
tinued, and it was through his relation
there that he acquired the well-earned
reputation Of being the leading authority
OF the fishes and fisheries in the United
States. 1t was this that led. In 1880. to
his appointment to the charge of the fish
cries division of the tenth census. On
the death of Professor Baird. although
the entire care of the museum fell upon
him. DR.. Goode was made fish commits
sioner, and continued in that place, which
position he retained only until the law
could be amended, making that office an
Independent one. His relation to the fish
commission led naturally to his serving
"s United States commissioner to the fish,