642 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



saying much for the certainty of the said laws, perhaps] : it has 

 shown us that it is the ions and not the atoms which are the 

 active agents chemically. If the student is taught the contrary 

 in the early stages of his work, later this must all be unlearned 

 and we know how difficult it is to correct first impressions. . . . 

 Further, since we know that the ion and not the atom or the 

 molecule is the factor which enters into most chemical reactions, 

 we should insist upon it because it is true. 



The situation is painted in an equally philosophical manner 

 in the preface to his larger work on the Principles of Inorganic 

 Chemistry. It is rendered almost amusing by a statement such 

 as the following : 



The writer has refrained from introducing unproved theories 

 and disputed questions as far as possible, since the student for 

 whom this work is meant is scarcely at a stage to properly 

 appreciate and evaluate scientific discussion. The attempt has, 

 however, been made to avoid dogmatism, since this is harmful 

 even in an elementary work. 



O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us 

 To see oursels as ithers see us ! 



But this may be said of most of us. 



Prof. Jones may have reason during the next few years to 

 appreciate the force of his own remark, " we know how difficult 

 it is to correct first impressions " — in any case, the example may 

 serve to show how necessary it is to have regard for facts and 

 to avoid creating visionary impressions. 



In our own country, the physico-chemical dovecot has 

 evidently been somewhat disturbed of late : seemingly its 

 inmates are beginning to study the gentle art of hedging ; 

 unfortunately most of them lack the courage to release their 

 hold of the Ostwaldian petticoats, to which they have so long 

 been accustomed to cling that they are unable to stand alone. 

 But, as was said of the lambs of little Bo-Peep — if let alone 

 for a while longer, doubtless they will come home and leave 

 their tales (of ions as well as of repentance) discreetly behind 

 them. 



It is time that some serious protest were made against the 

 pedantic narrowness and dogmatism of the modern elementary 

 text-book. If text-books were mere novels — they resemble them 

 most closely in the entire absence of novelty of theme — it would 

 matter little what is written in them ; unfortunately the poor 

 devil of a student is forced by a merciless examination system to 



