EDITORIAL. 505 



trained intellectual strength, and to bring discouragement and invite 

 failure. 



" It is no doubt true that when a commonwealth has invested a 

 large amount of capital in specially trained men and expensive 

 ap])aratus, it is reasonable to ask for results, and with this no fault 

 can be found. The danger lies in the fact that sufficient opportunitj'^ 

 is not allowed for the careful working out of a problem in all its 

 scientific aspects. Under conditions of haste and undue pressure, 

 the results, if worth anything, are very likeh^ to be incomplete and 

 unsatisfactory, and in too many cases they must be subject to costly 

 revision. 



" I feel disposed at this time to make an appeal to the citizens of 

 this commonwealth to secure to the -investigators who will occupy 

 this building, as well as to all others in this college, freedom for the 

 future from an incubus which, in the histor}' of ouf^ experiment- 

 stations of the past, has for many years been prolific of disastrous 

 results. I do this because this building should stand as an exponent 

 of the best scientific work and thought, and because I know of 

 no body of men, other than the citizens of Massachusetts, to whom 

 such an appeal may be made with greater assurance of an intelli- 

 gent hearing, and a fairer prospect that they will apply the remedy, 

 patience.'''' 



