Evening star., 1931-12-10

Washington,s grand old man" Of
science was honored yesterday after
noon when an oil portrait of DR..
Charles e. Munroe, internationally
famed chemist and chief Of the ex-
plosives division of the Bureau Of
Mines, was presented to the Cosmos
Club, of which he is former presi-
dent and one of its beloved members.
The presentation took place before
large gathering of friends and fellow
associates in the assembly hall OF the
club and was attended by the distin-
'guished 82-year-old scientist as we'll as
by members of his family in Washing
ton, including his grandchildren. Fol-
lowing personal tributes paid to DR..
Munroe as scientist and member OF the
Cosmos Club for the last 40 years, the
formal presentation OF the portrait was
made to DR.. William G. White, presi-
dent.
The portrait was presented on behs If
OF q committee of club members and
associates, by DR.. Henry G. Knight,
chief of the Bureau of Chemistry and
Soils of the Department Of Agriculture.
Dr. White, who expressed his keen ap-
probation Of the gift on behalf Of the
club, then turned the portrait over to
the custody of DR.. Lyman j. Briggs,
chairman of the Arts Committee.
1T gives me great pleasure to ac-
cept the custody Of this portrait OF our
beloved club member" said DR. Briggs,
in congratulating the artist, Hermann
Ludden OF. Takoma Park, Md, on
catching 50 admirably with his brush
what all will agree is a characteristic
attitude and expression OF DR.. Munroe."
Tells Friends of Gratitude.
The scientist himself, before the
| actual presentation was made, ad-
dressed few remarks to his many
friends. He spoke feelingly of his 49
years in the Cosmos Club, which he
and thanked his friends for the tribute
they had paid him. DR.. Munroe re-
ferred briefly to his associations with
George Washington University, where
he is dean emeritus of the graduate
school and for many years was pro-
fessor of chemistry; to the Bureau OF
Mines, with which he has been con-
nected since its founding; the Wash
ington Chemical Society and other
scientific bodies to which he belongs.
The meeting was opened by DR.
White, who presented DR.. Knight as
the presiding officer. The latter invited
DIR. Marcus benjamin TO speak OF tne
honor guest as member of the club
"Dr Munroe is descendant" he said,
"of William Munroe, who came over In
1895 and settled near Lexington and
Concord in Massachusetts. II any OF
you ever go to Concord and look upon
the battle monument there, you will be
overwhelmed by the ne mes Of the Mum
roes upon it." he said. There are
| nearly two dozen of them"
DIR. Benjamin related many remi-
niscences connected with DR.. Munroe
and members of the club in the circles
of its environments and at scientific
meetings and pictured the human
side" of the distinguished scientist.
| DR.. H. S. Washington of the Geo.
physical Laboratory, who outlined DR.
Munroe's scientific activities, referred
to shis duties as professor Of chemistry
at the Naval Torpedo Station at New
pert, r. l., where he was experiment
'rR with explosives. a field in which
he invented smokeless powder, for which
he is known over the world.
In this connection, DR.. Washington
related an amusing anecdote to cor