i6o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



have appreciated, the value of the noble gift which Sir Josiah Mason 

 has bestowed upon the inhabitants of the Midland district. For us 

 children of the nineteenth century, however, the establishment of a 

 college under the conditions of Sir Josiah Mason's trust has a signifi- 

 cance apart from any which it could have possessed a hundred years 

 ago. It appears to be an indication that we are reaching the crisis of 

 the battle, or rather of the long series of battles, which have been 

 fought over education in a campaign which began long before Priest- 

 ley's time, and will probably not be finished just yet. 



In the last century, the combatants were the champions of ancient lit- 

 erature on the one side, and those of modern literature on the other; but, 

 some thirty years ago, the contest became complicated by the appear- 

 ance of a third army, ranged round the banner of Physical Science. 

 I am not aware that any one has authority to speak in the name of 

 this new host. For it must be admitted to be somewhat of a guerrilla 

 force, composed largely of irregulars, each of whom fights pretty much 

 for his own hand. But the impressions of a full private, who has seen 

 a good deal of service in the ranks, respecting the present jjosition of 

 affairs and the conditions of a permanent peace, may not be devoid of 

 interest ; and I do not know that I could make a better use of the pres- 

 ent opportunity than by laying them before you. 



From the time that the first suggestion to introduce physical sci- 

 ence into ordinary education was timidly whispered, until now, the 

 advocates of scientific education have met with opposition of two 

 kinds. On the one hand they have been pooh-poohed by the men of 

 business who pride themselves on being the representatives of practi- 

 cality, while on the other hand they have been excommunicated by 

 the classical scholars, in their capacity of Levites in charge of the ark 

 of culture and monopolists of liberal education. The practical men 

 believed that the idol Avhom they worship rule of thumb has been 

 the source of the past prosperity, and will suflice for the future welfare 

 of the arts and manufactures. They were of opinion that science is 

 speculative rubbish ; that theory and practice have nothing to do with 

 one another ; and that the scientific habit of mind is an impediment 

 rather than an aid in the conduct of ordinary affairs. 



I have used the past tense in speaking of the practical men for, 

 although they were very formidable thirty years ago, I am not sure 

 that the pure species has not been extirpated. In fact, so far as mere 

 argument goes, they have been subjected to such z.feu cfenfer that it is 

 a miracle if they have escaped. But I have remarked that your typical 

 practical man has an unexpected resemblance to one of Milton's angels. 

 His spiritual wounds, such as are inflicted by logical weapons, may be 

 as deep as a well and as wide as a church-door, but, beyond shedding a 

 few drops of ichor, celestial or otherwise, he is no whit the worse. So, 

 if any of these opponents be left, I will not waste time in vain repeti- 

 tion of the demonstrative evidence of the practical value of science ; 



