This he spent in travel and recuperation abroad. After this the college authorities granted him more assistance, so that he took life. easier and was able to enjoy some of its amenities.

Next after research he enjoyed exercising his skill on difficult chemical analyses, and during his last years in Cleveland he analyzed many complex minerals for his friend and colleague, Prof. H. P. Cushing, who spent a portion of his time with the New York Geological Survey. After he retired from active teaching in 1906 and went to live in West Hartford, Conn., he built for himself a small laboratory where he still continued making analyses of this sort for Professor Cushing, and for other friends interested in geology. His last published paper was with Prof. J. P. Iddings on work of this kind. Professor Morley had a remarkably retentive mind, so that practically everything which he read was stored in his memory, whence it could be drawn whenever needed. He not only possessed a remarkable clarity of expression in writing and speaking, but what is rarer, he had the ability to make scientific and abstruse matters interesting to the layman. His public lectures on such subjects as the etherdrift experiments were always well attended and every one manifested the keenest interest in what was being said.

He was & great lover of music and a good amateur musician. In the early days he played the chapel organ at Hudson, and in his later life derived much enjoyment from the pianola. After his retirement this versatility was a great help to him in getting the most enjoyment out of life. When he became weary at his analytical work, he would turn to music for relaxation. He also took a great deal of pleasure in out-of-door life, raising gladioli or taking trips through New England in his automobile, which he always drove himself. Only last summer he and Mrs. Morley, whose death preceded his by only a few months, took a trip into northern Massachusetts and Vermont in their machine. He was taken to the Hartford Hospital for an operation on January 21. Another operation was found to be necessary about three weeks later, which was not serious and from which he was expected to recover. Unexpected complications, however, set in and the end came on February 24, just a few days after his 85th birthday. Thus in the fullness of years passed a truly great man. The work he left behind him in both chemistry and physics is the best memorial to his genius. His teaching service extended over a period of 37 years and endeared him to several generations of students. By his colleagues he was revered for his genial personality, the wisdom of his counsel, and his unselfish service. His broad culture and noble simplicity of character enriched the lives of all those with whom he was associated.

WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY.

OLIN FREEMAN TOWER.

(Science, vol. 57, No. 1476, April 13, 1923, pp. 431-434.

ALEXANDER SMITH.

Alexander Smith, emeritus professor of chemistry in Columbia University, New York, died in Edinburgh on September 8, aged 57. Smith was born in Edinburgh, and entered the university there in 1882, where he studied mathematics under Chrystal, natural philosophy under Tait, and chemistry under Crum Brown, graduating as B. Sc. in 1886. During the following three years he attended the University of Munich, working in Baeyer's laboratory, chiefly under the direction of Claisen, and obtained the degree of Ph. D. in 1889. After a year spent as assistant in the chemistry department of the University of Edinburgh, Smith was offered the chair of chemistry and mineralogy in Wabash College, Indiana, a post which he held for four years. In 1894 he became assistant professor of chemistry in the University of Chicago, and rose through intermediate grades to that of professor and director of general and physical chemistry in 1903. Here his extraordinary gifts as organizer and teacher found ample scope. His Laboratory Outline of General Chemistry was published in 1899, since when at short intervals new textbooks or new editions flowed from his pen. Each book had in view the requirements of students of a definite stage of development, and all were characterized by an orderliness of method, combined with an originality of thought, which have made them popular not only throughout the English-speaking world but also as translations in almost every country where science is studied. An even wider field was offered to him in the principal chair of chemistry in Columbia University in the city of New York, where he became director of the department of chemistry. Here he may be said to have revolutionized the methods of teaching and the organization for chemical research.

Smith at the outset of his career was an organic chemist, and until 1902 his published papers are all concerned with organic topics, chiefly the chemistry of diketones, the benzoin reaction, and, generally, the action of potassium cyanide as a condensing agent. After 1902 his work is inorganic and physico-chemical, the physical character of his inventions becoming more and more marked with the lapse of years. An admirable series of papers on the liquid and amorphous modifications of sulphur formed the first fruits of his cultivation of this new field. Chiefly in conjunction with A. W. C. Menzies, now professor of chemistry at Princeton, Smith published a long series of papers on vapour pressures, many new devices for their exact measurement and for the measurement of boiling points under standard conditions being described. Among the valuable data obtained may be noted the exact determinations of the vapour pressure of mercury from 250° to 435° C. The vapour pressures of

dissociating substances such as ammonium chloride, calomel, and phosphorus pentachloride were also measured and discussed, particularly in connection with the unexpected values obtained when the substances were perfectly dry. His scientific merit was recognized by his election to membership of the National Academy of Sciences, and to the presidency of the American Chemical Society. In 1919 the honorary degree of LL. D. was conferred upon him by the University of Edinburgh.

Smith was a most genial personality, a pleasant companion, and a delightful amusing talker. He was filled to overflowing with energy, which in the end proved his undoing. A breakdown owing to overwork, complicated by a serious operation, forced him after a year's leave to relinquish his chair, and his death at a comparatively early age deprives his science of a great teacher whose name will not soon be forgotten.

(Nature, vol. 110, No. 2761, September 30, 1922, pp. 457-458.)

JOHN TROWBRIDGE.

J. W.

The following minute on the life and services of Prof. John Trowbridge was placed upon the records of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the meeting of April 10, 1923:

John Trowbridge was born in Boston on August 5, 1843, the son of John Howe Trowbridge and Adeline Trowbridge. At the age of 18, after attending the Boston Latin School, he entered the Lawrence Scientific School by special arrangement without any previous scientific training whatsoever. In spite of this disadvantage and the further handicap of a serious financial burden, he graduated with the degree of S. B., summa cum laude, in 1865. This brilliant success at Harvard doubtless decided the choice of his profession. Decision must have been difficult, since his interest at that time lay fully as much in the direction of art and literature (which remained delightful avocations) as in the direction of science.

From 1866 to 1869 he was a tutor in physics in Harvard College, and during the following year served as assistant professor of physics in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He returned in 1870 to Harvard, where he remained, at first (for 10 years) as assistant professor, and afterwards as full professor, until the date of his resignation in 1910-a continuous service of 40 years. He received the degree of S. D. in 1873, in 1888 was appointed Rumford professor, and on his resignation became Rumford professor emeritus. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Philosophical Society, and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, serving as president of the latter body for seven years. He served also as a member of the International Committee on Electrical Units.

On the 20th of June, 1877, he married Mrs. Gray (the widow of Thomas W. Gray), of Boston, whose young daughter (now Mrs. Edmund M. Parker) helped to brighten his life. Mrs. Trowbridge died in 1907, and his own death occurred in his eightieth year, on the 18th of February, 1923.

The earlier part of the long period during which Professor Trowbridge was a member of the teaching staff of Harvard College was characterized by the

development of laboratory methods in teaching, and by the recognition of research as one of the fundamental activities of the department of physics. Keenly alive to the lack of adequate facilities for the advancement of his chosen field along these lines at Harvard, Trowbridge projected a great physical laboratory and found the means to construct it. When the laboratory was begun, models for such a building were altogether lacking in this country. Nevertheless, so excellent was its design that it still affords adequate facilities for teaching and research; it forms a lasting monument to the genius of the man who planned it.

For 30 years Professor Trowbridge presided as director over the destinies of the Jefferson Laboratory, devoting part of his time to teaching and a larger part to experimental investigation. Problems connected with spectrum analysis and with the conduction of electricity through gases attracted his attention, and his contributions to scientific literature on these subjects were considerable. It was during the progress of these researches that he realized the importance of a constant source of high potential; accordingly he caused the great storage battery to be constructed, which, unique in its time, is still in constant use, and which has proved of the highest value in the study of X rays. To the characteristics of foresight and imagination, Trowbridge added the rare gift of stimulating intellectual activity in others. This stimulus was felt by many classes of persons and produced useful results in varied fields. Under his guidance many men who have won distinction in science took up problems in research for the first time; among them should be mentioned the late Prof. B. O. Pierce and the late Prof. W. C. Sabine.

Professor Trowbridge's personality was manifested not only in the intellectual activity which he exhibited, inspired, and fostered, but also in unselfish and constant devotion to the needs of his students and colleagues. Both traits of his character contributed toward the sentiment of respect and affection with which his memory will ever be cherished by those who came under his influence.

THEODORE LYMAN,

THEODORE W. RICHARDS,
GEORGE W. PIERCE,

(Science, vol. 57, No. 1483, June 1, 1923, pp. 631–632.)

Committee.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TREASURER.

(July 1, 1922, to June 30, 1923.)

To the PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES: I have the honor to submit the following report as treasurer of the academy for the year from July 1, 1922, to June 30, 1923, and as treasurer of the National Research Council for the same period. Following the usual procedure, this report is divided into two sections, the first of which covers the accounts of the National Academy of Sciences and the second covers those of the National Research Council.

NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.

Following the suggestion made in June, 1922, by Spencer Trask & Co., fiscal advisers of the academy, $11,000 par value of bonds of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, 5.5 per cent, 1929, were exchanged at 109 for $11,000 par value of bonds of same Government, 5.5 per cent, 1937, at 102. Another block of these first-named bonds were exchanged at about 108 for $5,000 par value, Kingdom of Norway 6 per cent, 1952, at par. Inasmuch as the British bonds, 5.5 per cent, 1929, were originally purchased at 96.25, a substantial profit was realized on the exchange.

Another profitable exchange was that of $10,000 par value Liberty loan, third, 4.25 per cent, 1928, recorded on our books at par, exchanged at 100.50, and $1,000 par value Liberty loan, fourth, 4.25 per cent, 1938, recorded on our books at par, exchanged at 101, and for these bonds were substituted $11,000 par value Dominion of Canada, 5 per cent, 1952, at 98. In each of these cases an increase in the interest yield has been obtained, in addition to the profit made at time of exchange. The total profit on all bonds sold or exchanged during the year was $2,056.62.

The total income of the academy from gifts, dues, interest on investments, subscriptions, contributions to proceedings, and payments by the Carnegie Corporation of New York toward erection of building amounted to $721,868.81. The miscellaneous disbursements amounted to $714,587.16, and payments on grants and for medals from trust funds amounted to $13,609.85.

The total book value of the investments held by the academy on June 30, 1923, was $343,598.25, yielding interest at that date at the rate of 5.48 per cent on the sum named. The market value of these investments on June 30, 1923, as nearly as could be determined, was