New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-27
x RAYS THE ATTRACTION.
VISITORS AT THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
EXHIBITION FLOCK TO SEE THEM.

AN INTERESTING SHOWING OF THE PROGRESS IN
GEOLOGY ELECTRICITY. PHOTOGRAPHY.
BOTANY. pALEoNToLoGY. ASTRONOMY.
PHYSICS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
In several WAYS the New York Academy of Sciences
has evinced increased enthusiasm and activity during
the last three four years. And one OF the Illus.
conspicuous evidences OF that new lie Is the annual
exhibition and reception given by that organization
every winter or spring for the last three seasons
Devoees OF science there represented nave mus
had an exceptona opportunity for studying the lat
est discoveries apparatus. products and specimens
OF their own and other departments OK knowledge.
A chance has been afforded, too. for socia inter-
course which happily supplements the more imper-
sonal information thus acquired The nrst TWO OF
these exhibitions were given while PROFESSOR D. N.
Rees. OF Columbia College, was president OF the
academy The third held yesterday in the Museum
of Natural History, occurred under the admnistra-
ton OF Professor j. J. Stevenson occupying the
chair Of geology In the University OF New-York. VI
course each department had Its own chief and star
to assist In the arrangement OF the exnios anu 10
supply information to the inQuiring observer.
In the two vast adjoining halls IN wn'cn tne ois-
play was made there were visible. In great cases
along the walls countless pathological and zoologi-
cal specimens forming part Of the stock coiiectons
OF the institution whose building was USED oy the
Academy on this occasion. These formed a pictur-
esQue background for the tables on which the newer
exhibits were arranged. and lent to the apartments
far more appropriate atmosphere than bare wails
or handsome tapestry could have done. Great ef-
forts were made by all the departments to exclude
such objects had been shown before under the
auspices OF the Academy that the various coiec-
lions might indicate genuine advance In science In
Instances the exhibits. in quantity and IN In
ercst were fully up the standard OF the two prev-
~ fis.ir Greater space
was available for the display. moreover; 50 that
everything was set of to better advantage than
formerly. And visitors were admitted only by
card 1t possible to restrict the number to teacn-
ers students. experts and amateurs who had more
than an idle In the exhibition and thus pre-
vent ovcrcrowling The halls comfortably
filled with such people In the afternoon and posi-
lively crowded at the evening reception. when
number OF persons well known In connection with
scientific work in this city and It's vicinity we're
present by o'clock. in spite Of the shower an hour
or two earlier there were about 100 persons pres
ent one-third OF the number being ladies'.
R0ntgen's famous discovery had 80 utterly
ecllpscd all other scientific novelties at least In
the popular mind. that the Department OF Elec-
tricity the chief point OF interest yesterday
And though other valuable instruments were dis
played therein. the apparatus for producing rays
was what the visitors most cared to see In add'-
ton TO vacuum tubes and admirable photographs
taken Herewith one OF SIR Ei.son's microscopes
shown to the wondering observer. THIS Is tho
device by which a man Is enabled to see his hand
through several inches OF wood As 1t was I'M
possible to satisfy the general curiosity by BRIEF
and fragmen;ary explanations. offered In response
to repeated Inquiries Professor VI. l. Pupn. who
was In charge OF this department. and who had
previously delivered formal lectures on tbs SUD-
ject In both New-York and Brooklyn. was per-
suaded to give another formal address In the lect-
ure hall OF the Museum las, evening. Thither about
one thousand persons proceeded. shortly arer
o'clock. and listened with rapt attention
Tho geological display large and varied. II
included series OF specimens OF coal showing tn"
graduation from luminous TO anthracite varieties
obtained In New-Mexico. and some Indian Terri
tory asphalis. collected last year by professor
Stevenson Cripple Creek gold ores. bauSlte from
Gcorgia and Alabama. and representatives. OF Adj
rondack and Mount Desert rocks were also con-
spicuous features IN this department. Mneralogy
made an equally good show. There were 'awson''e
and nor,hrupite two new minerals recently fouhd
in California; a rich and surprising collection from
newly opened quarries In West paers1n in NJ ,bc
world was obtalaed): that big tournaiine receni,,!
- - ivy Wy c"nncr Queen mine In Arizona we're
among the treasures IN This collection; ., ~.
rhnocercs family. but belonging to new species.
formed the chiet iraet9 9 OF NE
anhropoory pooled their ssuss ana sne pasy
hero was a collection showing the customs OF burial
under baskets by prehistoric race In utah 49,
Thu botanical department showed. among otner
things a sct of charts OF the new Bronx PARK 100
tanlcai Gardens collection OF microscopic pTepara-
lions and drawings by students Of Barnard CoNeFe,
come studies In MOSES by Mrs. y L. Britton ana
lot OF fossil pods from Bridgeton, y. j.
Apparatus FOR producing and showing tho spectrum
OF heum and argon was the great attraction III me
line OF chemistry. Photography was represented
largely by relief maps and models. Phot0siaphy
me de good display OF both apparatus ana pictures
the greatest novelty. perhaps. being supple palo
u
smoother portrait 4. ...,,.o A.,
n six-inch cquai orla telescope or warner *
Swazey several spectroscopes. object glasses ana
soecrns OF plane and parallel surfaces exhibited by
John 4 Prashear OF Allegheny Penn; large group
Of photographs OF planetary spectre. made ny fro-
fessor Keeler OF Allegheny. and me co'iec'oh Vi
pictures from the Harvard Observatory IA,
4 series Of photographs. obtained Dy noiIheu
form OF the Kfric apparatus. showing the voices or
singers under different conditions as wen as lne
appa ratus Itself excited more popular interest per
haps. than OF the many other things SHOWN oy
the departmcnt Of physics. The exhibits IN anatomy
were DEVOTED chiefly to exhibiting new ana rare
variations in the peciornl muscles In man Nnong me
novelties OF biology a hsh-enting rodent from
Peru some fishes hitherto unknown In thls locihly'
and eggs OF the thalassoma a marine worm
Psychology and bac,er!ology made the most modest
exh ~ n