THE CARNEGIE INSTITUTION. 537 



;md that the ablest professors will be left under conditions where they 

 can do the greatest good to the greatest number. 



If a great specialist were called from his present position to Wash- 

 ington to conduct work more advanced than he now performs, the 

 number of persons annually benefited by his instruction would be less- 

 ened. Suppose he should remain where he is, and these advanced 

 workers be sent to him, he would be able to carry on the greater 

 part, if not all, of his regular work and direct these special investigators 

 as well. No institution would be crippled by the loss of its strongest 

 men, but on the contrary it would be strengthened by the coming of 

 exceptional students. 



The Carnegie Institution might also reach a class that could not be 

 benefited by a national university intended for graduate students only, 

 for it could assist and encourage the exceptional man even if, through 

 force of circumstances, he had been unable to obtain a degree. This 

 surely is in the spirit of the man who became the commander in chief 

 of an army without having passed through a military academy. 



The fear that the humanities will be neglected in this institution is 

 not well founded. For, though emphasis has been laid upon the oppor- 

 tunities Washington affords for scientific investigation, there is no 

 implication that the sciences alone will receive attention. The ad- 

 vanced student in linguistics or philosophy needs direction and access 

 to libraries and museums, and since it is impossible to bring into one 

 place the ablest directors and the richest collections of books and orig- 

 inal material, the very best that can be done is to send the investigator 

 to the expert for direction and leave him free to pass from one city to 

 another while searching the sources from which his knowledge must 

 be drawn. Such workers are beyond the need of recitation drill and 

 daily contact with an instructor, and it is very sure that while one 

 guide might suffice, there would be no one locality where his work 

 could be carried on to the best advantage. 



It is likely that the Carnegie Institution will concern itself first of 

 all in obtaining authentic and complete information regarding the 

 great specialists of the world, the extent and scope of all libraries, 

 museums, workshops, laboratories and special facilities for advanced 

 work of every sort and character. It has secured groups of ad- 

 visers in the various branches of art, science and philosophy, and 

 thus doubly equipped, is able to direct intelligently the student where 

 to go and how to proceed in order to complete the task which he had 

 undertaken. If, in addition to this advice, the institution should find 

 it possible to give financial aid to the worthy investigator the fondest 

 hope of Washington will be more than reached and a grander spirit 

 than his will become a thing of life. 



