600 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



cals on this side of the ocean, catching up the allusion, dilute it still 

 farther, and presently it becomes a sort of intellectual goose-pond for 

 these dabblers to disport themselves in. The clear fountains of knowl- 

 edge from which it sprang are lost to sight, and only a mud-puddle re- 

 mains in view. 



Let me now sum up briefly my object in writing these pages. I 

 have not written them to attack either clergymen or journalists, for I 

 will not attempt to deny that much useful scientific knowledge finds 

 its way to the popular mind through the pulpits and the newspapers. 

 My purpose is twofold : First, to call attention to the silly character 

 of much of what is called " popular science ; " and, secondly, to urge 

 upon true scientific men the importance of rendering real knowledge 

 more accessible to the masses. There is a demand for science, or the 

 trash which is written would not be read. It works into nearly all de- 

 partments of common life, and is, in one way or another, of immediate 

 interest to almost every one. Yet, as I have already said, the current 

 popular lectures upon scientific topics are frothy and worthless: the 

 theologian often misrepresents science for partisan purposes ; and the 

 newspapers, with all the good they may do, are too frequently con- 

 ducted by those ignorant of all science. The people seek for knowl- 

 edge, and unwittingly get much chaff with their wheat. In some re- 

 spects the popular mind is filled with absurd superstitions. Strange 

 psychological phenomena are attributed to " animal magnetism," and 

 other natural wonders are apt to be fathered upon electricity. The 

 latter innocent force is made responsible for almost every thing unusual. 

 Therefore it seems to be time that true students of science should seek 

 to popularize their learning. Faraday, Tyndall, Huxley, and others, 

 have done an admirable work abroad, and their example should be 

 more generally followed here. Our lyceums need more scientific lec- 

 tures, and our best thinkers and observers should be ready to work in 

 that direction. Men of science constantly lament that the government 

 does not extend more aid to scientific research. The government is a 

 popular one, and the people must be trained before its help can be ex- 

 pected. Therefore, it is for the interest of the teachers as well as for 

 the good of the people, that scientific truths should be popularly put 

 forward in simple, untechnical language, and made accessible to all. 



+ 



TOWN AND COUNTRY AS PRODUCERS OF INTELLECT. 



By G. M. B. 



THE last number of the Journal of the Statistical Society had 

 an interesting article, by Mr. Hyde Clarke, on the " Geographi- 

 cal Distribution of Intellectual Qualities in England." 



The writer proves, by the use of a numerical test, that the towns 



