Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-13
CELEBRATES BIRTHDAY
OF MATTHEW F. MAURY
Memorial Association Plans to Free
Monument in Chimborazo
Park.
MASS.MEETING At CAPITO
Addresses on Life of Scientist Arc
Made by DIR. Douglas >. Freeman
and Rev. W. Russell Bowie, ID. ID.
Schools Hold Maury Day Exercises.

In celebration of the birthday OF
Commodore Matthew Fontainc Maury
and TO give impetus to q movement in
Virginia TO erect in Chimborazo Park
an appropriate monument to the dis
tinGuiShcd Ir,val scientist and world
bcncfactor-a distinguished company OF
1iChmond people assembled last night
in the hail OF tho House OF Delegates
to hear addresses ny Rev. w Russell
Bowie. u. H., rector of st. iauls Epis-
copal Church. and Dr. Douglas :. Free
man. on the life. character and achieve.
ments Of THE Pathfinder of tn" Seas
Governor Henry G. Stuart had con.
Scntcd To bc present and make an atl-
dress. but was unavoidably detained
out of the city by reason OF a della ed
train. : :. l.. Pat;cson the we'll
known local attorney, presided and in
troduccd the Speakers. The meeting
was held under the auspices of the
Matthew Font;,inc Maury Association.
one Of the principal reasons for tho
meeting was to Impress the people OF
his native state with tho unusual
achievements of one of Amcricu' 5,
greatest scientists who is. perhaps, the
least known The Matthew routaius
interest in giving tho people Of the
State u better understanding Of Maury's
achievements and will Within tho next
few weeks launch u vigorous campaign
I for funds with which to build q mouu-
mcnt to his memory
ONt: OF TIIRI:i: GREAT
SCIENTIFIC GENIlSI:S
Maury Is ono of tiI- worlds three
greatest scientific scniuscs." said Dr
Freeman, yet there are pcrhaps a
hundred who arc better known There
are several reasons for this The
great scientist was naturally OF IA re-
iif'nI disposition. and was unaltcrably
AYERS" I" pushing his claims AS some
men do And then he was the victim
OF professional jealousy. Other men
III the navy who were more ambitious
Tor the worlds plaudits took away some
OF the glory that should have beer.
'MaurN's. Finally, Maury was n South.
crn"r. and cast lot with the Confcd-
cracy. I'm act which has done a great
dcai to keep him out of the niche which
he deserves in the Hall Of Fame,
commodore Maury. said Dr. Free
/ man had five great characteristics-
originality. capacity for work. opcnness
"i mind. ability at concentration. am,
scientific Imagination.
This last characteristic" said 10.
freeman, was peculiarly Maurv's
Many great men have exhibited the
other characteristics I have mon.
TONED. hui only Maury had the noeti,.
imagination which resulted in such
scientific achievements as to make him
one or the great figures ,,$ history
NOBODY could read some of I, writ
''ss oi Maury without being impressed
WIN the fact that the writer was n
real poet as we'll as Il scientist
MahrN capacity for work Dr
Freeman said. was phenomenal lie
was never satisfied when at ease. oc-
'uP"t'"h was his recreation. He never
"h"Wed himself to he without some
lhihS |" do. 1t is said that he would
begin the days work about . o'clocl,
!" 'he morning and keep on until =
or ) o'clock the next morning
ABILITY TO CONCENTRATE
MIND ~ PHENOMENAL
The scientists ability 10 concentrate
ms mind on n given problem in the
midst OF distractions was. Dr Free
man SAID. ono OF his peculiar charac.
tcriS'ics. Maury never had a study.
hut would ponder the scientific aues-
'''hS u'on Whicn ne WAS at work i'm
the midst Of his family circle-while
the children We're playing around him
and the older people were amusing
themselves in various WAYS
The economical saving effected
through the work Of Maury. said DR.
Freeman. is greater than that effected
through the work OF any other sci
eh'ist. except. perhaps. Morse His
contribution. too. to the science OF
warfare is one OF the most Valuable
IN Tn" history cf the world
"If Germany wins this war" said pr
Freeman, then she should, II she acts
Justly. erect monument to Matthew
Fontaine Maury, for II was he. as A
naval commander in the Confederate
service. who was the father of de-
fcnsivc mining
Or. Bowic dwcit upon the character
OF Maury. and stressed particularly the
TACT Of his intellectual stamina. his
ability to grasp II problem and solve II.
The Richmond public schools ycster-
day observed appropriate exercises in
honor of Maury's memory.