5 o8 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



convince the world that the study of Nature is one of the most noble 

 of pursuits ; that there are other things worthy of the attention of 

 mankind besides the pursuit of wealth. He must push forward and 

 do what he can, according to his ability, to further the progress of his 

 science. 



Thus does the university, from its physical laboratory, send forth 

 into the world the trained physicist to advance his science and to carry 

 to other colleges and technical schools his enthusiasm and knowledge. 

 Thus the whole country is educated in the subject, and others are 

 taught to devote their lives to its pursuit, while some make the appli- 

 cations to the ordinary pursuits of life that are appreciated by all. 



But, for myself, I value in a scientific mind most of all that love of 

 truth, that care in its pursuit, and that humility of mind which make 

 the possibility of error always present more than any other quality. 

 This is the mind which has built up modern science to its present per- 

 fection, which has laid one stone upon the other with such care that it 

 to-day offers to the world the most complete monument to human rea- 

 son. This is the mind which is destined to govern the world in the 

 future, and to eolve problems pertaining to politics and humanity as 

 well as to inanimate nature. 



It is the only mind which appreciates the imperfections of the hu- 

 man reason, and is thus careful to guard against them. It is the only 

 mind that values the truth as it should be valued, and ignores all per- 

 sonal feeling in its pursuit. And this is the mind the physical labora- 

 tory is built to cultivate. 







MINERAL SPRINGS OF EASTERN FRANCE. 



By TITUS MUNSON COAN, M. D. 



THE terrm incognita are not always the most distant lands. The 

 greater part of France, outside of Paris, is an unknown country 

 to the greater number even of traveled Americans ; and of the little- 

 known features of that pleasant land its abundant mineral springs are 

 among the least known. No country in Europe is so rich in mineral 

 springs : six hundred and fifty are enumerated in a single treatise (Le 

 Pileur's), and designated as "among the best-known springs" ; while 

 the number of different establishments, probably about two hundred, 

 is greater than that of any other country. 



Ask, now, the first neighbor you meet, this question, which I have 

 sometimes asked, "What French mineral springs do you know by 

 name?" Unless he is an old traveler in Europe, and sometimes even 

 if he be an old traveler, you will not get a very long answer "Vichy, 

 of course ; and and yes, Aix-les-Bains." " And any others ? " you 

 continue. The usual answer will be either " No," or " Plombieres." 



