THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 129 



practical affairs. Either lie l)ecomes dogmatic in expression, or he 

 must hold himself in check with an effort. 



There is much honest effort to break down this barrier between the 

 scholars who represent universities and the great host of men who 

 represent the community. These men are not so isolated, but they are 

 just as dogmatic in their own wa.y, and they are immensely influential. 

 Plere are two groups of men, the scientific and llic practical, both 

 powerfully equipped, who should be mutually stimulating in all that 

 makes for progress. 



Men engaged in research are looked upon in general as inoffensive 

 but curious and useless members of the social order. If an investi- 

 gator touches now and then upon something that the public regards 

 as useful, he is singled out as a glaring exception. If an investigation 

 lends itself to announcement in exceedingly sensational form, as if it 

 were uncovering deep mysteries, the investigator becomes a marked 

 man, and his lightest utterance is treated as an oracle. The fact is 

 that the great body of investigators who are doing the substantial work 

 that makes for scientific and practical progress are unknown to the 

 public. 



There is a conventional application of the term science which I wish 

 to use for convenience. Thus applied, there has arisen a classification 

 of science into two phases, called pure science and applied science. 

 An attempt to define these two kinds of science reveals the fact that 

 the distinction is a general impression rather than a clear statement. 

 If the impression be analyzed, it seems that pure science is of no 

 material service to mankind: and that applied science has to do with 

 the mechanism of our civilization. The distinction, therefore, is based 

 upon material output. In other words, pure science only knows things, 

 while applied science knows how" to do things. This impression has 

 been unfortunate in several w^ays. The public, as represented by the 

 modern American community, believes in doing things ; and therefore 

 to them pure science seems useless, and its devotees appear as orna- 

 mental, rather than as vital members of human society, to be admired 

 rather than used. On the other hand, the universities, as represented 

 by their investigators, believe in knowing things ; and therefore to them 

 applied science seems to be a waste of investigative energy, and its 

 devotees appear to be very unscientific. 



In this atmosphere of mutual misunderstanding, the public and the 

 investigators have continued to exist and make progress, all the time 

 acknowledging their interdependence by mutual service. In recent 

 years, however, the spirit of mutual service has become more dominant ; 

 and investigators are beginning to recognize their greatest mission in 

 contributing assistance in solving the problems that confront com- 

 munity life. 



I wish to indicate the real relation that exists between what has been 

 called pure science and applied science. As an introductory illustra- 

 tion, there may be outlined the usual steps that botanical science has 

 taken in the material service of agriculture. An investigator, stimu- 

 lated onl}' by what has been called "the delirious but divine desire to 

 know^, " is attracted by a problem. No thought of its usefulness in a 

 material way is in his mind; he wishes simply to make a contribution 

 to knowledge. The investigator succeeds in solving his problem, and 



is satisfied. Later — perhaps many years later — some other scientific 

 2—22640 



