second, a complete rotation of the disc occupying 3 m. 30 s. In the figure, the record of all three components commences at the radius marked 0s. at one and 3m. 30s. at the other end, the inner record belonging to the E.W., the middle to the vertical, and the outer to the N.S. component, deviations toward the center indicating a western, downward, and southern displacement. About forty-six seconds after the beginning of the vibrations the vertical component record crosses the N.S. record and then continues in the unbroken outer circle. The vertical undulations need not be discussed, as they are small in comparison with those in the other two components, the drift across the N.S. record being due to gradual change in the vertical component instrument. The disturbance commenced with minute vibrations in all three components, which gradually increased in the N.S. and the E.W. components, reaching a first maximum in the E.W. direction at 37 seconds (reckoned from the beginning) and a second and principal one at 72 seconds. The principal disturbance in the N.S. direction commenced at about 32 seconds and lasted to the 50th second. During this interval the intensest vibration occurred at 49 seconds, almost exactly from south to north. In the original record and in Fig. 3 the commencement of this vibration apparently occurred after its end. But the direction and magnitude of the deviations in the record depend not only on the actual displacement of the ground and its period, but also on any vibration that the recording pendulum may have acquired and upon the angle which the radius drawn through the marking point makes with a line drawn through the marking point and the steady axis.

Taking these factors partially into account, the time of this northerly displacement is found to be 1.14 seconds. By treating the displacement as belonging to a simple harmonic motion, the actual velocity of the ground at 49 seconds is found to be 0.47 of an inch (12 mm.) per second, and its actual acceleration 1.29 inches (33 mm.) per second per second, or roughly of the acceleration due to gravity.

In a similar manner the velocity of the greatest westerly displacement, which occurred at about 72.7 seconds, is found to be 0.13 of an inch (3 mm.) per second, the acceleration being 0.32 of an inch (8 mm.) per second per second, or about 12 of the acceleration due to gravity.

The vibrations rapidly lose in amplitude in both horizontal components after reaching their maxima, but they can be traced for about 2 revolutions, that is to the end of the recording lines marked by small arrows near second mark 170. As each revolution corresponds to 3 minutes and 30 seconds, the ground was in motion for ten minutes. In some places the vibrations in the two horizontal components seem to differ by about half a phase, which corresponds to the loops in the simultaneous Duplex record of Fig. 2. In fact, if the simultaneous oscillations of the two components were compounded, a record similar to that of Fig. 2 would be produced. The greatest displacements (irrespective of the time) were for N.S., 0.34 of an inch (9 mm.), and for E. W., 0.10 of an inch (3 mm.), from the Ewing, and 0.43 of an inch (11 mm.) and 0.11 of an inch (3 mm.), respectively, from the Duplex instrument, or on the average 0.38 of an inch (10 mm.) and 0.10 of an inch (3 mm.).

If displacements like the principal ones of March 30 and of April 14 had occurred as instantaneous shocks, inestimable damage would have resulted to our University buildings.

GREAT MEN AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.*

By WILLIAM HENRY HUDSON.

The question which I have to open for discussion this evening is that raised by Professor James in his essay entitled "Great Men and their Environment," The problem may be stated in his own words thus: "What are the causes that make communities change from generation to generation-that make the England of Queen Anne so different from the England of Elizabeth, the Harvard College of to-day so different from that of thirty years ago?" The solution he offers is: "The difference is due to the accumulated influences of individuals, of their examples, their imitations, their decisions." The solution he alleges to be offered by the Spencerian school is: "The changes are irrespective of persons, and independent of individual control. They are due to the environment, to the circumstances, the physical geography, the ancestral conditions, the increasing experience of outer relations; to everything in fact except the Grants and the Bismarcks, the Joneses and the Smiths." In the criticisms and the suggestions I am presently going to make, I shall concern myself entirely with the exposition of my own ideas on the subject before But I think it only fair at the outset to call attention to the fact that though Professor James' just-quoted words may adequately express the conclusions of some writers who

us.

* Abstract of an address delivered by Professor Hudson, of Stanford University, before the Philosophical Union, February 25, 1898, in criticism of Professor James's essay, "Great Men and Their Environment:"