The Lamar register., 1910-09-28
co9ZVc1gUT AN1ZY -zooxIyv HooW nov ~ SolzT

cludes some OF the greatest scientists Of the
United States. and. In its nonresident member
ship some of the greatest scientists OF the world
There are botanists, astronomers. ornitholo
gists and. in fact scientists of all kinds and de-
scriptions. to be found nightly in the great.
sweeping parors Of the clubs quarters. There Is
Just as much hospitality and jollity In the club
to be found in the rooms Of any social
organization in the world-and learning besides
there. also. In order to be member OF the Cos
mos club you must have something besides
money and social standing II is probable that
there many members of other organizations
In Washington, who would be willing to throw
their memberships into the deep sea. II the act
would buy for them admittance into the club
of these scientists.
The headquarters OF the Cosmos club in
the old "Eoly Madison" residence. II there
that the widow of President Madison lived and
held social sway for years after the death Of her
husband. During the Civil war for a time. Admi-
raj Wilkes lived in the Madison house. II was
wilkes who took Mason and Slide from the Brit
ish steamer Trent" and thereby nearly brought
between the United States and Great
Britain at a time when such might have
insured ultimate victory to the Confederate arms.
The biological survey of the United States
government has lost the services OF DIR. C. Hart
Merriam. who for years the surveys chief.
and who in the carly days worked SO hard to
make theservire what he succeeded in making 1t.
of the most useful departments OF govern
ment. DIR. Merriam has accepted the direction OF
the Hartman Foundation for Geological Re-
search Mrs. Hartman. the widow of z. II. Har-
riman the great fnancer and railroad man. has
carried out the wishes OF her husband. and has
~ aside large sum of money to be used for
purposes of geological study. Acting unquestion-
ably in line with her husbands wishes. Mrs. Har-
riman requested DR.. Merriam to take charge OF
the work.
II is probable that the former chief OF the bio
logical survey is the foremost authority In the
United States in matters pertaining to certain
lines of natural history work II DR.. Mer-
ram. more than any other man. to whom Theo-
dore Roosevelt went for advice about the scope
OF his expected work in Africa The doctor and
the colonel have been friends since boyhood:
when in New York state both pursuing bird
studies and exchanging letters general sub
jects of natural history.
These words about Dr. Merriam and the Har-
riman Geological Foundation lead to tell a
story about the late fnancier. which perhaps
will throw some light on a side OF his life con-
corning which most people probably know little.
One year ago last winter I went south from
Washington bound for Augusta. Ga. with
friend Z. Harrman's private car was at
tached to the train at OF the stations on the
way 1t happened that my friend was a close per
sonal acquaintance of Mr.. Hartman and he was
invited to dine with the fnancier on his private
car. and told to bring his friend with him.
provided the friend would like to come.
There were several of large affairs at
that little dinner party. OF the guests being
the president of of the greatest railroad
systems in the world The conversation, natu-
rally. about big affairs of the financial world
concerning which I knew very little. and am
free to confess. cared much less After hearing
good deal about certain things concerning
which the discussion was more less unintelli-
gible to me. ventured to break into the CONVEX.
sation and to tell Mr. Hartman that had such
of the journals of the Hartman Alaska Expedi
ton" already had been published and more
over, that had read them
For the next two hours had ample evidence
that E H. Hartman cared for something besides
railroads. Ten or twelve years before he had