Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-09-30

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-
scrptions to be found nightly in the great,
sweeping parlors of the clubs quarters. There is
Just as much hospitality and jollity in the club
are 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 Co.'S
club you must have something besides
money and social standing. 1t is probable that
there are many members of other organizations
In 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 In
the old Dolly Madison" residence. It 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, Admit
raj Wilkes lived in the Madison house 1t was
Wilkes who took Mason and Slidell from the Brit
ish steamer Trent" and thereby nearly brought
on war between the United States and Great
Britain at a time when such war might have
insured 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 was the surveys chief
and who in the early days worked so hard to
make theservice what he succeeded in making It,
one OF the most useful departments OF govern
ment. Dr. Merriam has accepted the direction OF
the Hartman Foundation for Geological Re-
search Mrs. Hartman, the widow of E. H. Har
riman, the great nnancier and railroad man, mas
carried out the wishes of her husband, and has
~ aside large sum of money to be used for
purposes of geological study. Acting unqueston-
ably in line with her husbands wishes, Mrs Har-
riman requested DIR. 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. 1t was DR.. Mer-
fiam, 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 boyhooo,
when in New York state both were pursuing bird
studies and exchanging letters on general sub
!ects of natural history.
These words about DR.. Merriam and the Har-
fman Geological Foundation lead one to tell
story about the late financier which perhaps
VII throw some light on side of his life con
corning which most people probably know Mite
one year ago last winter l went south from
Washington, bound for Augusta, Ca. with
friend. e H Harriman's private car was at
Iaehed to the train at one of the stations on the
way 1t happened that my friend was close per
s0nal acquaintance of Mr.. Hartman, and he was
invited to dine with the 1nancer on his private
car and was told to bring his friend with NM
provided the friend would like to come.
There were several men Of large affairs at
mat little dinner party. of the guests being
lie president of one of the greatest railroad
systems in the world. The conversation. natu-
rally, was about big affairs Of the financial world
concerning which | knew very little and am
zee 10 confess. cared much less After hearing
d good deal about certain things concerning
which the discussion was more or less unintelil-
s.oe TO ne. l ventured TO break into the CONVEX
Salion and to tell Mr.. Hartman that had such
a' the journals of the Hartman Alaska Expedi'
'oA as already had been published, and more
over that I had read them.
For the next two hours had ample evidence
mat E II. Hartman cared for something besides
'@Eoads. Ten or twelve years before he had