Evening star., 1902-04-17
NATIONAL SCIENTISTS
PRESIDENT AGkSEIZ GIVEN A RE-
CEPTroN Last EVENING.
Papers Read Before the Academy on
Variety of Topics-Election
Of Treasurer.

Prof. Alexander Agassiz, president of the
National Academy Of Science, was given a
reception at the Arlington Hotel last night.
Inc affair was one of the most brilliant en-
tertalnments of the season. In addition to
the delegates to the convention, among
whom are included many scientists of wide
reputation and notable scholastic achieve
ments, the reception was attended by near
ly the entire resident scientific body many
officials of government and a great number
of persons of fashion
The guest of honor stood in the north
parior of the Arlington near bower made
of masses Of trailing green. Near him were
MRS Henry Cabot Lodge and Mrs. Arnold
hague, who assisted in receiving the guests.
That entire section Of the hotel was boun-
tlfully decorated with ferns, palms and pot
ted plants in bloom
The National Academy of Sciences con-
vened Tor its annual April meeting in the
lecture room Of the National Museum Tues
day afternoon at 2 o'clock. A business
meeting designed to dispose Of certain rou-
tine matters preceded the regular session.
The academy elected Mr.. Samuel F. EN-
mons OF Washington treasurer and the fol-
lowing scientists to membership: Charles
y. Wa1cott and Simon Newcomb, both of
Washington. D. c.; George ]. Brush of New
haven, Conn; J. s. Billings Of New York.
Harry P. Bowditch of Massachusetts, Will
liam II. WEIGH of Baltimore.
Papers Considered.
When this business was concluded the
academy proceeded to consider the follow
ing papers:
THE Compulsory Introduction of the
French Metrical System into the United
States" by William Sellers of Philadel-
phia; "On the Coral Reefs Of the Nal
dives Alexander Agassiz; ''On the Theory
of the Formation of Coral Reefs" Alexan-
der Agassiz; "Psychophysical Fatigue" ].
Mex. Cattell; "On Some Optical Properties
OF Asphalt Edward L. Nichols.
The paper by Mr.. Sellers evoked the most
discussion. After a broad review of the
metrical system and epitome of the pro-
posed law on the subject, the speaker stat
his judgment it would work hardship and
injury to all the commercial interests Of
the country. The only difference between
the metrical system and that now in use in
bitrary difference and lay in the standard
OF measurement. one being built upon the
inch and the other upon the centimeter.
Session This Afternoon.
The academy reconvened at the museum
at o'clock today, when papers were read
upon variety Of topics The themes for
discussion during the closing sessions are:
Evolution of the Titanotheres III. Mod
els and Restorations." Hea-y F. Osgood;
The Classification of the Sciences" Chas.
S: Peirce; THE Postulates of Geometry"
Charles s: Peirce; The Color System"
Charles 8. Peirce; THE Disintegration
Of Comets" Asaph Hall; "A New Com
putation of the Coeficients of Procession
and Mutation Ira Ibson sterner, in
t,9 troduced by Asaph Han; The Distri-
THE Variability In Light of Eros E. c.
Pickering; The Physiological Station on
Monte Rosa" with lantern illustrations),
H. P. Bowditch; "Biogra phical Memoir of
General J. c. Barnard" Henry L. Abbot:
Biographical Memoir Of General Francis
A. Walker" John s. Billings
lecture to be given at Columbian Uni
versity tonight Is made a part of the reg
ular program Of the. annual meeting. The
lecturer is to be Professor Charles r.
Chandler of Columbia University, New
York, and his subject will be "rhe Electro
chemical Industries of Niagara This lee
ture and brief session tomorrow will con-
clude the current mes ting