XXXJi, '21] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS 51 



Entomology and the Professional Ideal. 



By R. H. HUTCHISON, Malvern, Pennsylvania. 



Some time ago a paper on 'American Entomology: Its 

 Presen' and Future Status as a Profession." was published 

 and distributed by "a group of younger entomologists," the 

 burden of its message being a strong plea for "a compensation 

 sufficient to enjoy the necessaries of life." There can be no 

 gainsaying the seriousness of the situation which they point 

 out, especially in the matter of attracting and holding young 

 men who in the next generation would be called upon to fill 

 the places of the present leaders. 



In considering a remedy they very creditably cast aside 

 the idea of attempting to gain their end "through organization, 

 union and strike," as used by the industrial worker, and they 

 suggest that the end would best be attained if the men in the 

 highest positions were "to waken to the condition and lend 

 every effort to raise the standard of the profession through 

 fair salaries for their assistants." 



P>ut let it be said by one who has been forced to give much 

 thought to this matter that a general increase in salaries will 

 not of itself give the profession any better standing or make 

 it any more attractive to the right kind of men. Recent de- 

 velopments have made it plain that an even greater need is 

 for a more general realization of professional ideals, and the 

 leaders, even if they succeed in making entomology more 

 attractive financially, fail if they neglect to impress on recruits 

 the dignity of professional work in general and inspire them 

 to follow certain high standards for Entomology in particular. 

 Equal importance, and perhaps the only real solution of the 

 question of compensation, lies in educating the people gener- 

 ally as to what professions stand for and what they are trying 

 to do. 



It will serve the purpose- of this argument to review briefly 

 the origin and distinguishing features of professions: 



The professions of theology, law and medicine originated in the 

 priesthood. The priests ministered alike to the bodies, souls and estates 

 of their parishioners. They were lawgivers and administrators of the 

 law. They were physicians and administrators of medicines, and they 



