Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 33.djvu/867

Rh the evidences—largely of his own discovery—of the extreme antiquity of man in America. Prof. Smiley, in economical science, sharply criticised many modern ideas and practices in benevolence, which he described as too indiscriminate and contrary to nature. The papers in the several sections mostly illustrated the personal researches of their authors or bore upon matters of daily interest, and seem to have been peculiarly acceptable to the audiences who thronged the meetings. The Association is always happy, when it meets in the basin of the Great Lakes, in being upon a ground which is fruitful in lessons in geology, botany, and climatology, and which could of itself supply subjects for papers enough to engage the whole attention of the meeting. These. subjects were well represented. Industrial or manual training WiTS not forgotten in the Economic Section; in which also Prof. Atwater essayed to show that the increase of the human race is never destined to outrun the possibility of food-supply; and the impracticability of the Panama Canal was demonstrated for the xth. time. In anthropology, attention was called to several antique American works the preservation of which has been secured, and to many others which ought to be taken care of; the affinities of the Aryan and other races were considered; and interest was expressed in the institution of an international language, for the purposes of which Volapük was regarded as inadequate. A report was presented by Prof. Mendenhall, from the committee on that subject, on the teaching of physics.

While the work of the meeting was nearly all of a high scientific character, it was also of such a nature or so performed as to be what the people wanted. All the vice-presidents, says one of the city papers, "were wise in placing, as far as possible, their views and theories on a plane not too scientifically lofty for the appreciative observation of those less learned than themselves." Another newspaper expression is to the effect that

One great fact has stood out prominently in all the work of the Association in this city, and that is the practical value of science. No matter what the subject discussed or how technical the treatment, the connection between theoretical science and applied science was plainly discernible, and should need no argument to convince an intelligent resident of Cleveland of the value of applied science, or its intimate connection with everybody's business or the general welfare.

Another lesson, which has also an important social bearing, may be drawn from the experience of the city papers. They were not afraid to give full reports of the papers read, covering from one to two pages of their daily issues, so that members of the Association said the papers of no other city had served it so well, except, perhaps, those of Boston. Of the results upon themselves of making the large sacrifices of space usually devoted to more sensational matter which this required, the "Plain dealer" says:

Those who have read the reports from day to day will admit that the space was well filled, and that the influence on our city can not but be good. Science has been brought to the doors of our people and carried by the papers into their homes, and those who hitherto paid it no attention have been compelled to take some interest in it. To the surprise of some of the—at first unwilling—readers, the topics discussed were found to concern themselves, and to be treated in an entertaining manner. Instead of skipping the proceedings in the next day's issue, they read them with increasing interest, and on the third day turned to them with as much eagerness as if the columns contained a bit of political news, a murder—or a base-ball game. The appetite grew by what it fed on, and each new paper was read with keener interest and better understanding. The effect on such readers—and they can be numbered by thousands—will be lasting. They will hereafter pay more attention to matters of scientific character, and will have a greater regard for scientists.

Are the people, are the newspapers, of Cleveland, wiser or more intelligent than those of any other city, except perhaps Boston? Or is the fact beginning