The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-10-01
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cudes some of the greatest scientists OF the
United States. and, in its nonresident member
ship. of the greatest scientists of the world
There are botansts astronomers, ornitholo-
gists and IN fact. scientists of all kinds and de-
scriptons 10 be found nightly in the great,
sweeping parlors of the clubs quarters There Is
Just as much hospitality and jollity in the clnb
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
club you must have something besides
money and social standing. 1t 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 adulittance into the club
these scientists
The headquarters OF the Cosmos club in
the old Dolly Madison" residence. 1t 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. Adu1t-
raj wilkes lived in the Madison house. II 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 time when such war might have
insured ultimate victory 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-
rtrlan, the great hnancier and railroad man. has
carried out the wishes OF her husband. and has
~ aside large sum o; 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
che work
I, is nrobable 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-
riam 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 on general sub
1ects of natural history
These words about DR.. Merriam and the Har
riman Geological Foundation lead one to tell a
story about the late fnancier, which perhaps
will throw some light side Of his life con
cerniug which most people probably know little
One wear ago last winter I went south from
Washington. bound for Augusta. Ga, with a
friend E. Harrimans private car was at
tached to the train at one OF the stations on the
way II happened that my friend was a close per
eonal acquaintance OF Mr.. Hartman and he was
invited to dine with the fnancier on his private
car and was told to bring his friend with him.
provided the friend would like to come
There were several men Of large affairs at
tha. little dinner party one OF the guests being
the president OF o. the greatest railroad
systems in the world. The conversation. natu-
rally about big affairs OF the financial world.
concerning which / knew very little. and am
free to confess. cared much less. After hearing
q good deal about certain things concerning
which the discussion was more or less uninteilf-
G1ble to me, ventured to break Into the conver-
oafion and to tell Mr.. Hartman that had such
of the journals OF the Hartman Alaska Expedi-
tiou- as already had been published, and more
over that had read them
Fer the next two hours had ample evidence
that E II Hartman cared for something besides
rsilroaa- Ten twelve years before be had