The new era., 1910-10-06
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cludes some Of the greatest scientists of the
United States, and in its nonresident member
snip, some OF the greatest scientists OF the world
There botanists. astronomers ornitholo-
g1sts. and in fact. scientists OF all kinds and de-
scriptons. to be found nightly in the great
sweeping parlors of the clubs quarters There is
Just as much hospitality and jolity In the club
As are to be found in the 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 aandng. 1t is probable that
there many members of other organizations
I'm Washington. who would be willing to throw
their memberships into the deep sea, If the act
would buy for them admittance into the club
of these scientists
The headquarters of the, Cosmos club are in
the old Dolly Madison residence It was 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 time Admi-
ral Wilkes lived In the Madison house. It
Wilkes who took Mason and Slidell from the Brit
fsh steamer Trent" and thereby nearly brought
between the United States and Great
Britain at a time when such war might have
1nsured ultimate victory to the Confederate arms.
The biological survey of the United States
government has lost the services of DR.. c. Hart
Merriam. who for years the surveys chief.
and who in the early days worked hard to
make theservice what he succeeded in making 1t.
one OF the most useful departments of govern
menf. DR.. Merriam has accepted the direction of
the Hartman Foundation for Geological Re-
search. Mrs. Hartman. the widow OF e. H. Har-
r1man, the great hnancier and railroad man. has
carried out the wishes Of her husband, and has
Uet aside large sum OF money to be used for
purposes of geological study. Acting unquestion-
ably in line with her husbands wishes, Mrs. Har-
1iman requested DR.. Merriam to take charge Of
the work.
1t 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. It DR.. Mer-
siam. 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 were pursuing bird
studies and exchanging letters general sub
5ects OF natural history.
These words about DR.. Merriam and the Har-
r1man Geological Foundation lead one to tell
story about the late fnancier, which perhaps
will throw some light on side of his life con-
cerning which most people probably know little.
One year ago last winter went south from
Washington. bound for Augusta Ca, with a
friend. E. H. Harriman's private car was at
tached to the train at one of the stations the
way. It happened that my friend was close per-
sonal acquaintance of Mr.. Hartman, and he
invited to dine with the fnancer his private
car. and was told to bring his friend with him.
provided the friend would like to come.
There several of large affairs at
that little dinner party. Of the guests being
the president Of OF the greatest railroad
systcms In the world. The conversation, natu
rally. about big affairs Of the financial world,
cDncernng which knew very little. and I am
free to confess, cared much less. After hearing
Q good deal about certain things concerning
which tho discussion or less unintelli-
g1bSe to me. ventured to break into the conver.
Gation and to tell Mr.. Hartman that had such
OF the journals Of the Hartman Alaska Expedi-
tion" as already had been published. and more
over that had read them.
For the next two hours had ample evidence
thst e. H. Hartman cared for something besides
~atiroa.: Ten or twelve years before he' had