Evening star., 1946-03-24
--Horydczak Photo.

Department..
DR.. Walcott was instrumental In
creating the National Advisory Com
mittee for Aeronautics, through his keen
interest in flying.
The Reclamation Service, Interior
Department, also was promoted by Dr..
Walcott.
Sterling scholars have held the secre-
taryship of the Smithsonian Institution
during its century of activity. But there
have been only six of them, showing
that social security in this Job is not a
great problem.
Famous Men Served
In Post of Secretary
Mr.. Baird, friend of the renowned
ornithologist Audubon, excelled in
biology and was known as an all-'round
naturalist, before the latter days of
specialization. He had an astounding
capacity for work. His fine physique
permitted him to do strenuous field work
and the length of his walks excited the
admiration of lovers of the outdoors
Next in the secretaryship came Samuel
Pierpont Langley 834-1906), whose in
terest in flying led him to experiments
in aviation on the Potomac and placed
him among the aerial pioneers He was
keenly interested in flight and used to
watch the birds From these observa-
tions and years of painstaking investiga-
ton, he laid some of the scientific
foundations for latter-day flying. Mr..
Langley's forte was astronomy. AS a
young man, he made telescopes. He
began the scientific study of the sun
so illustriously carried on by his sue
cessor, DR.. Charles Greeley Abbot
Charles DooGttle Walcott Q850-192O
came next as secretary of the Smith
sonian. He delved into the British
Columbia Rockies to discover the secrets
of pre-Cambrian and Cambrian geology.
He was a geologist and paleontologist
and had headed the Geological Survey,
Interior Department. His scientific in
terests were varied and he was possessed
of a deep understanding of human
nature and an exceptionally keen INTEL
lect. His scientific curiosity first became
aroused when, as farm boy in New
York State, his wagon wheel turned
up a curious piece of rock.
DR.. Abbot, astrophysicist, served from
1928 to 1914. On June 80, 1914, at the
age of 70, he retired officially, but still
continues to study the sun and its
characteristics. His "fireless cooker"
operated by the heat of the sun alone,
is an unusual invention He has spe-
cialized in long-range weather FORE
casting.
The present secretary is DR.. Alexander
Wetmore, ornithologist. His study Of
birds has made him world figure. He
has published check list of the fossil
birds of North America, and his
classification of the birds of the world
is the standard. He has also authored
numerous monographs and shorter
scientific papers on the birds of Latin
America and elsewhere.
James Smithson Q765-1829), who
made the original grant, came from the
nobility Of England-the Hungerfords of
Studley, the Duke Of Somerset and kin
of the Northumberland and the Percys.
He attended Pembroke College, Oxford,
became an eminent chemist and min
eralogist devoted his life to science and
was an intimate friend of the great
Physicist Cavendish. He was admitted
to the Royal Society because of his
learning.
He was a man of the broadest tastes,
interested in agriculture, language, the
arts, history, construction and other ave-
nues of endeavor. The latter part of his
life was spent mainly in Paris. In i'll
health. After making provisions In his