The sun., 1901-05-11
NEW BOOKS.
George Brown 0oode.

oswspapers. yet who ore known and re-
spected by scientists throughout the world
Such man was the late DR.. George Brown
ooode. Assistant Secretary OF the Smith
sonian Institution. who died about FIVE years
p ago. When his death was announced. mes
sages OF coincidence were received from such
representative persons as Sir William II.
Flower. Director Of the British Museum.
Prof E. II. Giglloli Of Florence. NJ. Henri
de Varisnv OF Paris. DR.. Karl M0bus OF Berlin,
Prof. A L. Herrera Of the National Museum
In Mexico and Mr.. julius Neumann OF the
Chinese Customs Service. The memorial
volume. which we have before us. contains,
besides a collection of DR.. Goodies writings,
memoir OF him by Mr.. Samuel Pierpont
Langley. Secretary OF the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition. Nothing could be more sympathetic
or in better taste than the short biographical
sketch
George Brown Goode was born at New
Albany Ind. on Feb. Is. 1881. His later
childhood and early youth were passed in
Amenia. n. Y. where he was prepared for
college. He entered the Wesleyan University
ae Middletown. Conn, In 1865. and was gradu-
ated In 1870, In the year last named. he
entered Harvard University as post grad
uate student under Prof. Louis Agassz. In
1871 he was invited to take charge Of the
museum at Middlctown. and he retained
his offlcial connection with the Wesleyan
University until 1871. In 1872. he became
= volunteer In the United States Fish Com
mission. and a score of papers record the
work done by him for the commission in Maine
Long Island Florida Bermuda and elsewhere.
He was not only interested in the scientific
ai6 ~ oh hut a. "A
great attention to the economic Vect Of IT,.
lie was United States Commissioner to the
Internationale Fischerei Ausstellung in 1880
at Berlin and to the International Fisheries
Exposition held at London in 1883. His asso-
citation with the Smithsonian Institution
beg n soon after he became acquainted with
elate Prof Baird, who invited him to spend
the winter Of 1873 in Washington lie then
met Prof Henry, and became one of the
small but highly influential cotcrie of Smith
sonan men In 1881, when the United States
National Museum was definitely organized
Or Goode was made Assistant Director, and.
in 1887, he was appointed Assistant Secretary
OF the Smithsonian Institution From that
time until his death on Sept 9, 1890, he had
entire charge of the museum. on Prof
Baird's death in 1887. he was made Commis-
soner Of Fisheries. but declined 20 occupy
the post permanently, for the reason that he
preferred to give all the time at his disposal
10 the National Museum
It Is hard to say whether DR.. Goode was
best known in scientific circles as museum
director or as a naturalist Since he became
connected with the National Museum at
Washington, the number of persons en-
ployed by that institution has grown from
thirteen TO over two hundred, and the number
Of specimens from two hundred thousand 70
over three millions From every foreign
exposition which he attended he would bring
back methodical collections Of objects over
looked by others These might he musical
instruments, specimens Of ecclesiastical art
early printed books, medals or worries lie
was collector of words and ideas as well as
things out Of the common names of
plants and animals IN the United states he
made large collection Of Amercanisms
Portraits Of scientific men, portraits Of Wash
ington and jefferson, autographs, Confed-
crate mprnts, Americana and American
scientific text hooks-these are but few
Of the fields in which he cleaned
DR. Goode was a naturalist in the sense
which we give the word when we apply it to
Agassiz and Baird While he was specially
Interested in lchthyology, he know all the
Eastern species Of birds after identifying
and arranging the collection in the Middle
town museum He loved plants, and, in the
later years Of his life, took great pleasure in
the cultivation Of a garden Many of his
hrefcr papers deal with the biological prob
lens which attracted his attention, such
problems as those suggested by migratons.
cooring, albinism. mimicry, parasitism, feed
a. g
his archaeological researches which made him
most widely known His monograph on the
Menhaden a a ge volume o' so re $50 rnges
Is srococniyet as model OF critical treatment
Of information brought together from all quar-
ters In connection with the census Of 1850.
he prepared the Natural History Of Aquatic
Animals. which wa, issued from the Govern
ment Printing ONCE This work presented he
most complete survey Of the food fishes Of
the United states that has ever appeared
Subsequently. he wrote a popular treatise
on the subject. which is unriynlled in respect
Of scientific accuracy. In the fuliImcnt Of
his duties "a an oClcer Of the United States
Fish Commission. he studied pisciculture
In all ia details The article on the subject
In the Encyclopedia Britannica 1855 is from
his pen The great work Of Or Goodies
life, his Oceanic Ichthvoogy," was written
during the period when he was Director of
the National Museum, It was published only
a month before his death
While not presuming 10 call himself an
anthropologst, Or Gupde was vet a close
student Of tle anthropological and ethnolog-
zeal work done in the United states and
abroad II Is doubtful whether any pro-
fessonal anthropoloSI~t has had a higher
ideal of what his science might come TO bc.
or has exercised more discriminating crit
icism on It, present methods and conditions.
tie was deeply Interested also IN technology
and the history of art lie -trove 20 collect
into one great anthropological scheme all Of
the knowl"dg" Of all men in all ages Of the
world and in all stages f culture"
Dr. Goode will be- long remembered for the
assistance he gave to the establishment of
a national university at Washington In
an article, which he contributed to a maga-
zine, he computed that Wa.h.ngton', be-
quests TO the United States for a national
university would, If invested az compound
interest, have amounted In 1892 to - 4,IOo.OOO,
and he proposed that the Federal Govern
ment should restore this sum as tho nucleus
for the endowment OF a national seat II
learning Another project which he had at
heart was the opening Of French universities
10 American students his belief being that
American science was tending to become
one-sided. owing to the fact that almost all