3 i2 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



I am afraid that scientific training leads too often to idealism. We 

 know the conditions we should have for our work, and we are impatient 

 with those who do not recognize them. We act as though the suitable 

 conditions should be offered to us freely as our right; and when the}' 

 are not, we rail at those who could help us but do not. In fact, I have 

 been surprised at the confidence shown in us by those who have no 

 conception of what we are doing, and whom we do not take the trouble 

 to inform. This argues well for the possible results of a persistent 

 general campaign of education. 



I have no large faith that there will be any such campaign, for in 

 my experience investigators have cultivated indifference. Each man is 

 anxious for his own investigation, but not troubled to the point of 

 effort about investigation in general. My chief concern is to secure 

 recognition of the fact that we are being treated about as well as we 

 can expect; and that there is an opportunity for us to do better for 

 ourselves, and far better for investigation in general, if we care to avail 

 ourselves of it. 



This is not a matter for organization or concerted action on the 

 part of scientific men, but it is the cultivation of a general sentiment 

 among them in favor of giving the public such information as has been 

 suggested; a sentiment that acts when opportunity offers. This gen- 

 eral sentiment is absolutely necessary, for, so far as I know, it is all the 

 other way at present; and the man who sees his work reported in the 

 public press shudders a little when he thinks of his colleagues. After 

 all, it is the good opinion of his colleagues that a scientific man prizes 

 most, and rightly; and he must feel them solidly behind him in any 

 new departure. 



The attitude of our colleagues across the Atlantic can not be taken 

 as our guide in this matter, for our institutions and our people, whether 

 we approve of them or not, are different. Besides, our European 

 brethren are facing to-day the same problem, and with a much more 

 hopeless outlook. I have been assured by my German colleagues that 

 since their government has become deeply interested in world politics 

 the chances for increased support for research have diminished, and 

 they regard private support as hopeless. We have behind us a public 

 more prosperous and much more generous, accustomed to support lib- 

 erally what it is interested in. If this can be taken advantage of, there 

 is no reason why research in America can not be developed to an extent 

 that is without precedent. 



