1 82 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



But ciremnstanees may direct it into new paths, or may foster it so 

 that what would otherwise have died as a bud now blossoms and ripens 

 into the perfect fruit. 



Americans have shown no lack of invention in small things; and 

 the same spirit, when united to knowledge and love of science, becomes 

 the spirit of research. The telegraph-operator, with his limited knowl- 

 edge of electricity and its laws, naturally turns his attention to the 

 improvement of the only electrical instrument he knows anything 

 about; and his researches would be confined to the limited sphere of 

 his knowledge, and to the simple laws with which he is acquainted. 

 But as his knowledge increases, and the field broadens before him, as 

 he studies the mathematical theory of the subject, and the electro- 

 magnetic theory of light loses the dim haze due to distance, and be- 

 comes his constant companion, the telegraph-instrument becomes to 

 him a toy, and his efl^ort to discover something new becomes research 

 in pure science. 



It is useless to attempt to advance science until one has mastered 

 the science: he must step to the front before his blows can tell in the 

 strife. Furthermore, I do not believe anybody can be thorough in any 

 department of science, without wishing to advance it. In the study 

 of what is known, in the reading of the scientific journals, and the 

 discussions therein contained of the current scientific questions, one 

 would obtain an impulse to work, even though it did not before exist. 

 And the same spirit which prompted him to seek what was already 

 known, would make him wish to know the unknown. And I may say 

 that I never met a case of thorough knowledge in my own science, 

 except in the case of well-known investigators. I have met men who 

 talked well, and I have sometimes asked myself why they did not do 

 something; but further knowledge of their character has shown me 

 the superficiality of their knowledge. I am no longer a believer in men 

 v/ho coidd do something if they would, or would do something if they 

 had a chance. They are impostors. If the true spirit is there, it will 

 show itself in spite of circumstances. 



As I remarked before, the investigator in pure science is usually 

 a professor. He must teach as well as investigate. It is a question 

 which has been discussed in late years, as to whether these two func- 

 tions would better be combined in the same individual, or separated. 

 It seems to be the opinion of most that a certain amount of teaching 

 is conducive, rather than otherwise, to the spirit of research. I myself 

 think that this is true, and I should myself not like to give up my 

 daily lecture. But one must not be overburdened. I suppose that the 

 true solution, in many cases, would be found in the multiplication of 

 assistants, not only for the work of teaching but of research. Some 

 men are gifted with more ideas than they can work out with their own 



