4IO THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



A scientific man has relations with his fellow workers in the same 

 field throughout the world. In some narrow specialties he may know 

 that his paper will be read by not more than twenty people who may be 

 citizens of ten difi;erent nations. He belongs to a social group or fra- 

 ternity which is independent of language or nationality. A scientific 

 subject, whether large or small;, is built up by contributions accruing 

 from many nations. The symbols of mathematics, physical constants, 

 the names of species and genera, in large measure the terminology of all 

 the sciences, form an international language. It is easy to read scien- 

 tific literature in English, German and French; practically all those en- 

 gaged in research work can do so. Communication by way of the mails 

 and the printing press and interest in a common subject lead to per- 

 sonal contact and acquaintance, which have been especially forwarded 

 by the university. When the present writer was assistant in the psy- 

 chological laboratory of Professor Wundt at Leipzig twenty-five years 

 ago, more than half the research students came from beyond the bord- 

 ers of Germany. They now hold professorships in universities in many 

 different countries. In the classes of the writer at Columbia Univer- 

 sity last year, there were represented Great Britain, German}^, France, 

 Italy, Russia, Denmark, Bulgaria, South America and Japan. Inter- 

 change of professors as well as of students has become a feature of 

 academic life. Scientific men from foreign nations are continually 

 visiting our institutions and lecturing at our universities. Each is an 

 ambassador of peace and good will. 



The common interests of scientific men have led to their organiza- 

 tion in international conferences and congresses. These bodies are more 

 numerous than is commonly known. The Central Office of Interna- 

 tional Institutions at Brussels, which aims to become a clearing-house 

 in its field, enumerates as many as 280, most of which are concerned 

 with science in its wider aspects. Dr. P. J. Eijkman, of the Hague, in 

 his Ulnternationalisme scientijique gives a list of 614 societies and 

 organizations in the main scientific and international in character. In- 

 ternational congresses devoted to each of the sciences and to the applica- 

 tions of science in the various branches of engineering and medicine 

 meet periodically, each time in a different country. Experience shows 

 that the organization of an international congress is not always con- 

 ducive to domestic peace, but such difficulties perhaps dispose us to 

 appreciate all the more the good qualities of foreigners. Certainly these 

 congresses, bringing together men from different nations and giving 

 them opportunity to cooperate for their common ends, have a real and 

 increasing influence toward international good-will. 



International congresses, conventions and conferences often lead to 

 permanent plans and institutions for international cooperation. Some 

 of these, such as the Hague conferences, are directly concerned with 

 preventing wars or ameliorating their conduct. Others, such as the 



