LIVERMORE. DEVELOPMENT OP THE ARTS AND SCIENCES. 37 



by anybody who did not go through the whole mill. In the innocence of 

 ray heart I wanted to find out something about fog-siguals to save the 

 lives of seamen, and I had been referred to the little Latin verses for 

 boys. I then worked out the problem of general principles in less than 

 a tenth of the time I had spent in looking it up. 



Mathematics is regarded as an occult science, whereas in reality, if you 

 only know what the letters mean, it is the plainest common sense. One 

 of the leading scientists of America told me that he did not think the 

 higher branches of mathematics were of any practical use ; and one of the 

 most noted inventors of the day even said, '' Mathematics ain't no good." 

 Before mathematicians can take the stand in the world to which their 

 work entitles them, they must express their results in better shape. 



In the science of Physics much would be gained by more perfect co- 

 operation. The time has not yet arrived when all the laboratories in the 

 world or in the country can so combine their labor that no work shall be 

 uselessly duplicated, but doubtless there is more co-operation in a quiet 

 way than is generally known. 



In Physics and Engineering, graphic methods have long been employed. 



In 1892 the committee appointed by the British Association to look 

 into this subject made its second report. This Association, and others of 

 its type, have inaugurated a system of co-operation in science, but nothing 

 to compare with what will soon be required. The report says : " It does 

 not require much acquaintance with the subject to realize that there is 

 scarcely a treatise or publication dealing with mechanical science that 

 does not employ some kind of graphical expression as a means of ex- 

 position or calculation." These reports give a good index to the work 

 up to that date. 



Graphic methods afford the best means of mapping laws, and complete 

 maps of all that are known would not only help to recall them, but would 

 also aid in the solution of problems. 



The immediate future will probably see a greater advance in the science 

 of Physics than all past ages together. The correlation of forces and 

 conservation of energy have already been established, but we know little 

 as yet of the nature of the correlation except between light and electricity. 

 We have not yet determined the nature of the ether, or that of atoms. 

 Ethers have been hypothecated that answer for special purposes. The 

 problem is to get one to do all the work required, and until that is found 

 physicists and chemists should formulate and tabulate as simply as possible 

 the conditions it must fulfil to account for phenomena. The solution of 

 the problem will not be far away. 



