8 4 6 



TEE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



lead to still greater results, and the 

 note of which was, specifically, spec- 

 ulation on "guiding forces and the 

 realization of ideals." Of course, 

 this newer morphology would only 

 be the old pre-Darwinian speculation 

 back again ; and we think it is toler- 

 ably safe to conclude that such a re- 

 introduction is not contemplated by 

 the leaders in science to-day, and is 

 in no wise a probable event. 



The comparative study of animal 

 forms resembles more or less all 

 other comparative studies. It does 

 not lead to the discovery of ideals in 

 any sense, any more than does the 

 comparative study of myths. We 

 are merely led back from more de- 

 veloped to less developed forms, in- 

 dicative of simpler conditions of life 

 and a less varied play of the action 

 of natural selection. We are no 

 nearer to any " Why " when study- 

 ing amoeba; than when investigating 

 the structure of the highest verte- 

 brates. The whole result of com- 

 parative biological study is to show 

 us the order, and to some extent, the 

 conditions of development of ani- 

 mal and vegetable structures, and to 

 establish connections, affiliations, 

 and homologies where, apart from 

 the comparative method, no resem- 

 blances or correspondences of any 

 kind could be detected. As our 

 knowledge in any field of investiga- 

 tion attains a certain completeness, 

 the imagination is impressed more 

 and more with the wonderful unity 

 of plan which prevails throughout 

 the works of Nature; and at times 

 we thrill as we catch, or 6eem to 

 catch, the pulsations of universal 

 life. These emotions come to us not 

 in the search for ideals, but in that 

 humbler search for facts and co-ordi- 

 nating principles which some would 

 have us forsake, as being altogether 

 too humble and below our high pre- 

 rogative as intellectual and moral 

 beings. To us the world and hu- 



manity furnish an ample school for 

 the training of our highest faculties, 

 the religious not excluded. All de- 

 pends on the spirit in which knowl- 

 edge is pursued. Without grappling 

 with problems that are in their na- 

 ture insoluble, we may seek to adjust 

 ourselves progressively to the highest 

 knowledge we can attain, and thus to 

 reach the highest and best self-devel" 

 opment. If we do this, the path of 

 knowledge will be for each one of us 

 a path of ascent, and we shall find 

 that, without any investigation of 

 the Why, we have solved life's prob- 

 lem in the best possible manner. 



THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION AT 

 SPRINGFIELD. 



The meeting of the American As- 

 sociation for the Advancement of 

 Science this year was characterized 

 by a calm studiousness which was 

 promoted by the quiet but thrifty 

 environment in which it was held. 

 The address of the retiring president, 

 although confined to the one science 

 in which Dr. Brinton has won his 

 chief eminence, was a model for 

 such addresses, in that the whole of 

 it could be " understanded of the peo- 

 ple, 1 ' while at the same time furnish- 

 ing food for thought to the man of 

 science. It is no doubt easier for an 

 anthropologist to prepare such an 

 address on his science than for the 

 specialist in some other fields, for 

 the science of man is no foreign 

 ground to any intelligent human 

 being. This was demonstrated by the 

 continued interest and large attend- 

 ance at the sessions of the Anthro- 

 pological Section. The addresses of 

 mast of the vice-presidents dealt with 

 broad aspects of the several sciences. 

 That of Mr. F. H. Ousting, on The 

 Arrow, was more like a special paper, 

 but the expressions of interest on the 

 part of his hearers showed that they 

 found no fault with him on that 

 score. The public has often been 



