ii4 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



velop the tendencies necessary for the improvement of our colleges 

 and schools. Until the people see and recognize the difference be- 

 tween true investigators and mere collectors of specimens, between 

 original workers and text-book authors, little real progress will be 

 made." 



While these pictures were correct, when made, of a very large 

 number of American colleges, a vast improvement has taken place 

 since the articles were written in the quality of instruction given; 

 but there yet remain too many institutions to which they are still 

 not inapplicable. 



This was not the beginning of Professor Clarke's efforts to show 

 men of science that the true interests of their cause lay in their 

 making their knowledge easily accessible to the public. In the first 

 volume of the Monthly he had an article on Scientific Dabblers, 

 the purpose of which, as he defined it, was, after calling attention 

 to the silly character of much that was called " popular science," to 

 urge upon true scientific men the importance of rendering real 

 ' knowledge more accessible to the masses. There is a demand for 

 science, he said, " or the trash which is written would not be read. 

 It works into nearly all departments of common life, and is, in one 

 way or another, of 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 conducted by those ignorant of all sci- 

 ence. The people ask for knowledge, and unwittingly get much 

 chaff with their wheat. . . . Therefore it seems to be time that 

 true students of science should seek to popularize their learning. . . . 

 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 expected. 

 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." 



Later, in his chairman's address before the Chemical Subsection 

 of the American Association, in 1878, he had this subject in mind, 

 and mentioned it as part of the work of the section " to attract 

 public attention to the subjects that interest us, and to do what we 

 can to secure for chemistry a wider appreciation and greater means 

 for development. ... If the general public," he said later in his 

 address, " is not interested in chemistry, it is because we as chemists 

 have neglected a part of our duty. We have but to speak, in order 

 to .command the public ear." 



