New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-07
WOnEN SCIENTISTS.
Laboratory Research at the Naples
geological Station.

Ate. people got over the ides that women had
not brains enough go to college. il used 10 he ser
ously maintained that the B, A degree marked the
limit OF their intelligence and that they could not
ever expect 10 attain Phi. DIS. When they began
TO carry off Phi D. S IN large numbers the critics
discovered that = Phi \. did amount 10 much
after all. A woman's mind was receptive and could
really take I'm great deal Of ready made lnoWl-
edge. but in the field of original research she would
surely meet her Waterloo. To-day the original re-
search argument is not heard often used 10
be and Of the agencies which has helped TO dis
credit IL has been the Naples Table Association for
Promoting Laboratory Research by Women, which
held its annual meeting in New York recently.
For the last eight years this association has main
tanned = table for American women at the Zoologi-
cal Station in Naples and the sixteen women who
have made OF speak with enthusiasm of the
opportunities for research which it offers while
description OF their life at Naples is enough TO
! make even the unscientifc envious.
: The Geological Station at Naples is the most i'm
portant institution OF the kind in the world
Founded by DR.. Anton DOhrn with the co-opera-
ton Of such men as Darwin and Huxley Nirchow
and Heluhelz. the financial assistance OF the
Italian and German governments, 1t IS now sup
ported by subsidies from most of the European
governments and by the income from tables which
are maintained at expense of $500 annually by
scientific and educational bodies all over the world
In outward appearance IL suggests nothing what
ever of the dry-as-dust atmosphere commonly as
ISOLATED with science in the public mind II stands
. the midst OF q public park where flowers bloom.
fountains play gayIy dressed people congregate
and martial music accompanies the parading Of
the troops The buildings themsev IS with their
white pillars and portcos lie half hidden among
palms and holm oaks. Inside Is wonderful
aquarium, treasure house of the deep and
constant source of attraction to large numbers OF
visitors who do not realize the scientific import Of
the exhibit. Here everything is arranged 10 repro
duee nearly possible the conditions and en-
1eT1ro If
ing water directly from the Bay Of Naples
and the light enters so mysteriously from above
that the observer experiences the sensation Of being
far below the surface of the ocean.
The rest of the buildings devoted 10 labora-
tories, libraries. preserving and supply rooms. The
tables" really acoves fitted up with every
facility for ordinary biological research. There are
tanks of running water for preserving spec-
mems alive. glass dishes and bottles OF ali sizes
chemicals. reagents and even drawing materials
Close al hand reference libraries and laboTa-
tories for photography and bacteEiology- The IN
vcstigatoF needs TO bring only microscope, dissect
ing instruments and ideas. TO obtain material for
her research she has usually only to ask for IT.
Every night the administrator OF the fisheries
DR.. w. Biapco, inquiries concerning the wants OF
each individual student. and in the early hours Of
the morning his feet Of small boats goes forth to
dredge fish or skim from the bay what is required
The more delicate specimens, as soon as found
are placed in glass jars with enough water to
float them and 10 keep them in perfect condition.
and the jars six eight in basket, are carried
on the heads Of the fishermen from the boats TO
the supply room There the varied collection is
sorted under the personal supervision OF Dr. Banco
into tubs pans and glass jars Of all sizes, and the
fresh sea water with which the receptacles are
filed soon restores 10 their full beauty the Won
dersuI natural forms and coors OF the
ganisTns.
Dr. Dohrn mas always welcomed women TO the
tables Of the Naples station and when the
world was celebrating the twenty-ffth anniversary
Of l7a pf he III
who had been Of the students Of the station
suggested that a permanent table for American
women would be a fitting recognition Of his kind
ness. The idea taken up by the late Mrs. Alice
Freeman Palmer and Miss Agnes Irwin, dean of
Radcliffe College and through their efforts an
organization pledged 10 the support Of such
table was formed. At first it purposed merely 20
do this one particular piece of work. but later it
enlarged it's functions to include the pro-
motion Of scientific research among women without
regard to nationality. 1t was then that the $1,000
prize for original scientific research, which has
lust been awarded to DR.. Florence Buchanan of
London. was established. and although there is
less need for this part Of the work since the Carr
neeie Institute established the association
still thinks that It is justified in continuing it.
The first winner Of the 81 900 prize DR.. Ida
sabin of Johns Hopkins University whose thesis
on '"Fhe Origin of the Lympbatic System IS said
10 have embodied a discovery Of farreaching i'm
portance. TIE next DIR. Nettie II. Stevins, Of
Bryn Mawr. Her thesis was The Germ Cells
of the ,Aphis Rosa and Aphs Gnothere," and
had an important bearing the question of hered
ty
The association is made up OF the representatives.
OF the leading women's colleges and has six indi-
Siduai members each OF whom contributes so a
year
The following is the executive committee at the
present time; DR. Lillian Welsh, Women's College,
OF Baltimore. chairman Ida Shaw King, Brown
University Providence; Mrs. Mary Shaw Thomp
SON. Mrs Alice Upton Pearmnin, Professor Ellen
H Richards. Massachusetts Institute of Technol-
osy: Mrs 8 T. Clarke WIlliamstown. Mass, treas
urer; and Mrs A D Mead, No. 2S3 Wayland ave-
nue. Providence, secretary.