ii 4 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



history is counted in with Greek and Latin because an examina- 

 tion of the papers shows that nearly all the questions could 

 be answered by a candidate who had an adequate knowledge 

 of Greek and Latin literature ; indeed this literature is the 

 main source from which a knowledge of the histories of ancient 

 Greece and Rome can be obtained. 



The same sixteen candidates secured 254 marks for French, 

 Italian, and German combined, 3,491 for Natural Science, and 

 6,707 for Mathematics. So that Mathematics, Science, and 

 Modern Languages together were unable to score much more 

 than half the marks awarded to Classics. 



It may be thought that 191 3 was an exceptional year, but 

 this is not the case, for in 19 14 nine vacancies were announced, 

 and the candidates who gained the first nine places secured 

 11,560 marks for classics and classical history, 738 marks for 

 French, Italian, and German, 1,401 for Natural Science, and 

 3,901 for Mathematics. 



It will be seen that these results do not differ essentially 

 from those in the preceding year. 



As a consequence of this the country has hitherto been ruled 

 mainly by persons who have scarcely any acquaintance with 

 scientific method, and who, as often as not, are unable to under- 

 stand and consequently disinclined to accept, scientific advice. 

 We all know to what sad results this led at the beginning of the 

 war. 



The largest endowments for the teaching of Latin and 

 Greek are to be found in Oxford and Cambridge, and the undue 

 allotment of marks to classics in the examinations in question 

 means that first-class clerks, and, therefore, to a large extent, 

 the leading permanent officials, must be chosen almost exclu- 

 sively from the ancient Universities. Thus in 191 3 and 19 14 

 forty first-class clerks were appointed ; thirty-five came from 

 Oxford and Cambridge, one from the University of London, 

 one from a Scotch University, two from Irish Universities, and 

 not a single one from all the nine provincial Universities of England 

 and Wales combined ! 



Of course, we should all be sorry if Oxford and Cambridge 

 men were not largely employed in the service of the State, but 

 it is absurd to suppose that all the provincial Universities 

 together are incapable, in two years, of producing a single 

 person worthy to serve the State in these responsible positions. 



